European Council President Charles Michel on Saturday urged China to “use all means” to convince Russia to respect international law, just days before a G20 summit dominated by the conflict’s aftermath in Ukraine.
“We encourage the Chinese authorities to use all means at their disposal to convince Russia to respect the internationally recognized borders and the sovereignty of Ukraine,” Charles Michel told Agence France-Presse (AFP).
The official was speaking in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, where he is meeting this weekend with the leaders of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), meeting at the summit.
The President of the European Council will then travel to the Indonesian island of Bali to attend the G20, in particular with Chinese President Xi Jinping.
“It is important at this brutal moment in human history that there is international cooperation and that the G20 will be another opportunity to look each other in the eye,” he said.
“We are with countries that do not have exactly the same political regimes, but at the very least we believe that international law should be protected,” added Michel.
Relations between China and the European Union (EU) have deteriorated since both sides imposed sanctions over alleged human rights abuses in China’s Xinjiang region.
Since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine began in February, EU leaders have repeatedly asked Beijing to publicly condemn Russia’s actions, so far without success.
According to the wording adopted in 2019, the EU considers China as a “partner, economic competitor and systemic rival”.
Trade ties between the two remain strong, as is the case with Germany, whose chancellor was the first G7 leader to visit China since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Source: DN
