Chinese authorities behind a major trade expo in Shanghai pulled an opening ceremony address by European Council President Charles Michel that was set to criticize Russia’s “illegal war” in Ukraine and call for reduced trade dependency on China, diplomats said.
The pre-recorded video by Michel was meant to be one of several from world leaders and heads of international organizations, including Chinese President Xi Jinping (習近平), at the opening of the China International Import Expo (CIIE) on Friday, three European diplomats said.
The diplomats, who cannot be named due to the sensitivity of the matter, said they were surprised the speech was removed.
Photo: Reuters
“President Michel was invited to address 5th Hongqiao Forum/CIIE in Shanghai,” said Barend Leyts, a spokesman for Michel. “As requested by the Chinese authorities, we had indeed provided a pre-recorded message, which was ultimately not shown. We have addressed this through the normal diplomatic channels.”
No one from the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs or the co-organizers of the expo, the Chinese Ministry of Commerce and the Shanghai City Government, responded to requests for comment.
Other dignitaries who did speak at the ceremony after Xi included the IMF managing director, the WTO director-general and the presidents of Indonesia, Sri Lanka and Belarus, the expo’s official Web site says.
Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko is a staunch ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin whose country has hosted thousands of Russian troops before and during what Moscow calls a “special operation” in Ukraine.
Michel’s speech was set to be heavily critical of “Russia’s illegal war against Ukraine” and say Europe is learning “important lessons” from it, according to excerpts of the address provided by European diplomats.
Europe has been overdependent on Russia for fossil fuels, leading to a trade imbalance, Michel was to say.
“In Europe, we want balance in our trade relations ... to avoid overdependencies,” said the diplomats familiar with what he was to say. “This is also true of our trade relations with China.”
Michel was also set to call for China to do more do put an end to the bloodshed in Ukraine.
China has consistently refused to criticize Russia’s aggression, which has ravaged cities across Ukraine and killed thousands of troops and civilians since it began on Feb. 24.
“China has a role in using its influence to stop Russia’s brutal war ... through your so-called “no-limits” partnership with Russia, “ Michel was to say, referring to a pact announced by Xi and Putin in Beijing before the war began. “You, China, can help put an end to this.”
Xi and Michel are expected to attend and meet at the G20 heads of state summit in Bali on Tuesday and Wednesday next week.
The president of the European Council is one of the EU’s top ranked officials whose role includes representing the bloc at international summits and bilateral summits with other heads of state.
Since 2019, the EU has officially regarded China as a partner, an economic competitor and systemic rival.
The EU’s foreign policy service said in a paper last month that Beijing should now be thought of primarily as a competitor that is promoting “an alternative vision of the world order.”
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