European Council president to visit China, ‘open new chapter’ for ties

President of the European Council Charles Michel will visit China on December 1 at the invitation of Chinese President Xi Jinping, the Chinese Foreign Ministry announced on Monday.

The visit, which will be the first official meeting between leaders of China and the EU institution since the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, is expected to be a significant step for China-Europe relations to return to pragmatic cooperation as well as a positive sign for the peaceful development of relations, experts said.

Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian noted Monday that Xi will hold talks with Michel during his visit. Chinese Premier Li Keqiang and Li Zhanshu, chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress, will also meet with the EU leader.

The two sides will have an in-depth exchange of views on China-EU ties and on international and regional issues of common concern, according to Zhao.

Michel’s visit will be a courageous move for both sides in moving into a new chapter when China-Europe ties have come to a crossroads with many problems occurring this year, which have seriously interrupted the normal development of ties, said Sun Keqin, a research fellow at the China Institutes of Contemporary International Relations.

Western media commented that the meeting comes at a time when the EU “grapples with how to treat China amid pressure for a tougher approach from the US.”

The EU is hoping that Michel will pave the way for regular dialogues with China. It follows a trip to China by German Chancellor Olaf Scholz earlier this month and calls by French President Emmanuel Macron for engagement with Beijing, Bloomberg reported.

“Changes in its attitudes toward the US have been taking place since the Ukraine crisis, which has led to the energy crisis and political unrest in Europe. It turned to the US for help but the US only rolled out measures to protect itself or strengthen its own competitiveness, ignoring the needs of Europe,” Sun said.