War in Ukraine, “watch out for any attempt to help Russia financially and militarily“This was underlined by the president of the European Council Charles Michel, in Brussels at the end of the EU-China summit by videoconference.” However – he adds – positive steps by China that help to end the war would be welcome by all Europeans and the global community “.
The EU, together with its “international partners”, has imposed “heavy sanctions” on Russia, remembers Michel. “Our goal is to put pressure on the Kremlin and end the war.” They are sanctions that have a cost, but “it is the price to pay to defend freedom and democracy. Any attempt to circumvent them or to provide aid to Russia would prolong the war, lead to more loss of life and a greater economic impact. It’s not in anyone’s long-term interest. ”
THE APPEAL TO CHINA – During the videoconference summit with Li Keqiang and Xi Jinping “we asked China to help put an end to the war in Ukraine: Beijing cannot close its eyes to the violations of international law committed by Russia”.
The EU-China summit, he continues, “was not business as usual”, but “a summit in wartime. We are experiencing the worst security crisis in Europe since World War II. Putin’s war in Ukraine continues to kill women and children, to destroy entire cities. It is an open violation of international law. In times of crisis, dialogue is more than ever needed “. The EU and China “agree that this war threatens global security and the world economy. This instability is not in the interest of China or the EU. We share a responsibility, as global actors, for peace and stability” .
HUMAN RIGHTS – With Chinese Premier Li Keqiang and President Xi Jinping “we also discussed issues on which we disagree. We raised concerns about China’s treatment of minorities in Xinjiang, Inner Mongolia and Tibet”. “This includes – continues Michel – the repression against human rights activists. We also expressed regret for the dismantling of the ‘one country two systems’ model in Hong Kong and we have strongly insisted on the relaunch of the dialogue on human rights”.