Chinese authorities have recalled a speech by European Council President Charles Michel at the opening ceremony of a major trade exhibition in Shanghai, in which he criticized Russia's "illegal war" against Ukraine and called for a reduction in trade dependence on China.
This is reported by Reuters.
According to the agency, Michel's pre-recorded video was to be one of several speeches by world leaders and heads of international organizations, including Chinese President Xi Jinping, at the opening of the China International Import Expo (CIIE).
Diplomats, who could not be named because of the sensitivity of the matter, told Reuters they were surprised the language had been removed.
"President Michel was invited to speak at the 5th Hongqiao/CIIE Forum in Shanghai," Michel's spokesman Barend Leites told Reuters. ".
Other dignitaries who spoke at the ceremony after Xi included the managing director of the International Monetary Fund, the director general of the World Trade Organization and the presidents of Indonesia, Sri Lanka and Belarus, according to the exhibition's official website. Oleksandr Lukashenko is a staunch ally of Vladimir Putin and provided territory to Belarus for the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Focus on Russia and trade
The speech of the President of the European Council was to sharply criticize "Russia's illegal war against Ukraine." According to excerpts from the address provided by European diplomats, Europe is learning "important lessons" from it.
Michel was to say that Europe had become overly dependent on Russia for fossil fuels, leading to a trade imbalance.
"In Europe, we want balance in our trade relations ... to avoid over-dependence," said diplomats familiar with what he was going to say. "This also applies to our trade relations with China."
Michel was also going to call on China to do more to end the bloodshed in Ukraine.
China consistently refuses to criticize the Russian aggression, which since the beginning of February 24 has led to the destruction of cities throughout Ukraine and the death of thousands of soldiers and civilians.
"China has a role to play in using its influence to stop Russia's brutal war ... thanks to your so-called 'boundless' partnership with Russia," Michel was said to have said, referring to the pact announced by Xi and Putin in Beijing before the war began. "China, you can help put an end to this."
Both Xi and Michel are expected to attend and meet at the Group of Twenty (G20) summit in Bali next Tuesday and Wednesday.
The President of the European Council is one of the high-ranking officials of the European Union, whose duties include presenting the bloc at international summits and bilateral summits with heads of other states.
Since 2019, the EU has officially considered China as a partner, economic competitor and systemic rival. The EU's foreign policy service said last month that Beijing should now be seen primarily as a competitor promoting an "alternative vision of the world order".