Relations between EU and China depend on Beijing’s position regarding withdrawal of Russian troops from Ukraine, - Borrell
The European Union will not be able to develop "normal relations" with China if Beijing does not use its influence on Russia to persuade it to withdraw its troops from Ukraine and end the war.
This was stated by EU High Representative Josep Borrell during hearings in the European Parliament regarding the strategy of relations between the EU and China, Censor.NET informs with reference to Ukrinform.
"Regarding Ukraine, everyone knows what we think about it. Our message to China is quite clear, and the president (of the European Commission) made it clear when she was there. We noted that our relations with China cannot develop normally unless China uses its influence on Russia to withdraw its troops from Ukraine to end this war," Borrell said.
He noted that against the background of the conflict, which concerns the territorial integrity and sovereignty of an independent state, whose borders are protected by international laws and commitments of world powers, including Russia and China, any neutrality works in favor of the aggressor.
"We have talked a lot about this and will continue to talk. From a geopolitical point of view, we have to avoid a new cold war between the West and the Far East, like the one that happened before with the East," said the senior EU representative.
According to him, despite the divergence of positions on key issues regarding values and human rights, the EU should continue to talk with China, which is an influential world power and has a huge economic influence, particularly in the countries of the Global South.
"We should continue to talk with China given its ... influence in the world. Because dialogue is the basis of international politics as long as something as inevitable as that between Ukraine and Russia happens. China has already appeared (on the international scene. - Ed.), and it will remain an important player. In a few years, China and India will account for half of the world production," Borrell added.
