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During the recent talks in Paris, European Union leaders called on Chinese President Xi Jinping to intervene in resolving ongoing international conflicts, including the war in Ukraine and Iran’s nuclear ambitions. 

 European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen emphasized the potential role of Chinese influence after her discussions with Chinese President Xi Jinping, which also touched on trade issues. “We count on China to use all its influence on Russia to end Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine,” von der Leyen stated, noting the potential significance of China’s role in de-escalating tensions. She praised President Xi for his efforts in mitigating Russia’s nuclear threats and expressed confidence in his continued commitment against the backdrop of new nuclear exercises announced by Russia.

The talks also addressed the need for China to assist in curbing Iran’s expansion of missile and drone capabilities. “President Xi has played an important role in de-escalating Russia’s irresponsible nuclear threats, and I am confident that President Xi will continue to do so against the backdrop of ongoing nuclear threats by Russia,” von der Leyen added.

On trade, both von der Leyen and French President Emmanuel Macron urged for more balanced relations with China. Macron pointed out the importance of developing the EU-China relationship in a balanced manner for the future of Europe. They discussed the challenges of market access and state subsidies that have strained EU-China relations.

Ahead of the talks, President Xi said, “As the world enters a new period of turbulence and change, as two important forces in this world, China and Europe should adhere to the positioning of partners, adhere to dialogue and cooperation.”