Xi Jinping ignores invitation to EU-China anniversary summit – FT

Chinese leader Xi Jinping has declined an invitation to visit Brussels for a summit marking the 50th anniversary of China-EU relations, the Financial Times reported on Sunday, March 16.

Beijing has told EU officials that Premier Li Keqiang, not Xi Jinping, will meet with the presidents of the European Council and Commission at the summit in Brussels. The publication explains that EU-China summits are traditionally held in Brussels and Beijing. The prime minister usually attends the summit in Brussels, while Xi Jinping hosts it in Beijing. The EU believes that the Chinese leader should be present to mark half a century of diplomatic relations.

"Both sides said talks were ongoing, but the initial disdain confirmed the view of many in Brussels that China would not add concrete actions to its warm words about the need for cooperation in the face of US President Donald Trump's attack on the multilateral world order," the report said.

The EU notes that such actions cast doubt on the sincerity of recent Chinese initiatives.

As the Ukrainian News agency earlier reported, on February 10, Chinese leader Xi Jinping accepted an invitation to the May 9 celebrations in the aggressor country of russia.

On February 24, Xi Jinping reaffirmed his "boundless" partnership during a phone call with russian dictator vladimir putin.

As we will recall, on January 27, russian dictator vladimir putin and Chinese leader Xi Jinping held a phone call and discussed how to establish ties with US President Donald Trump.