Xi hopes the EU will develop its ties with China on the basis of "mutual respect" and without submitting to "third parties"

German president calls on Xi to use his influence on Putin to end the Ukraine war

MADRID, 20 Dic. (EUROPA PRESS) -

The President of China, Xi Jinping, assured this Tuesday during a telephone call with the German President, Frank-Walter Steinmeier, that he hopes that the European Union will develop its ties with Beijing based on "mutual respect" and without submitting to "third parties ".

"China supports the strategic autonomy of the EU and expects the EU to adhere to the basic positioning of China and the EU as strategic partners (...) and the principle that China-EU relations should not be aimed at, depend or be subject to any third party," Xi said, according to the Xinhua news agency.

On the other hand, the Chinese president has conveyed to the German president his wish that Berlin "provide a fair, transparent and non-discriminatory business environment for Chinese companies" that invest in the European country.

Xi stressed that China stands ready to cooperate more extensively and deeply with Germany to address global challenges such as slow economic recovery, climate change, food crisis and energy crisis in the post-COVID-19 period. Chinese state media specified.

For his part, Steinmeier has asked Xi to use his influence over Russian President Vladimir Putin to force peace talks with Ukraine and end the war, the German presidential office said.

Despite the fact that Beijing and Berlin have reached an agreement to provide COVID-19 vaccines to German citizens in China, the tensions between the two countries are notable after German Intelligence confirmed that China uses at least two secret police stations and illegal to spread Chinese influence abroad.