EU-China leaders’ meeting via video conference, 14 September 2020

Summary:

A high-level meeting between leaders of the European Union and China was held on 14 September 2020 via videoconference. This was a follow-up to the latest EU-China summit, held a few months earlier.

Further information:

Leaders welcomed the progress on ongoing negotiations for a EU-China Comprehensive Agreement (CAI) and also welcomed the signature of the EU-China Agreement on Geographical Indications. There was also a discussion concerning climate change and the response required to tackle the challenge, the world's response to the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic and a set of other matters relating to international affairs, including human rights and reports on China's handling of minorities in the country.

Official

General Secretariat of the Council: Background Brief - EU-China leaders' meeting via video conference, 14 September 2020 https://www.consilium.europa.eu/media/45539/200910-final-eu-china-background-note-cor.pdf

European Council: EU-China Leaders’ Meeting, 14/09/2020: Upholding EU values and interests at the highest level - Joint press release by President Michel, President von der Leyen and Chancellor Merkel https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2020/09/14/eu-china-leaders-meeting-upholding-eu-values-and-interests-at-the-highest-level-joint-press-release-by-president-michel-president-von-der-leyen-and-chancellor-merkel/

European Council: Remarks by President Charles Michel after the EU-China leaders' meeting via video conference (14 September 2020) https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2020/09/14/remarks-by-president-charles-michel-after-the-eu-china-leaders-meeting-via-video-conference/

European Commission: Statement by President von der Leyen at the joint press conference with President Michel and Chancellor Merkel, following the EU-China leaders' meeting via videoconference (14 September 2020) https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/statement_20_1644

German Council Presidency: News, 14/09/2020: EU-China Summit videoconference: These topics are on the agenda https://www.eu2020.de/eu2020-en/news/article/eu-china-merkel-michel-von-der-leyen/2383570

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News

Deutsche Welle, 13/09/2020: Coronavirus makes Germany's EU-China summit go virtual https://p.dw.com/p/3iNr8

Euronews, 14/09/2020: EU summit with China 'frank and open', says Von der Leyen https://www.euronews.com/2020/09/14/watch-live-eu-chiefs-update-on-summit-with-china

Reuters, 14/09/2020: Tear down your barriers, EU says after summit with China's Xi https://uk.reuters.com/article/idUSKBN26513B

France24, 14/09/2020: EU presses China on market access, human rights during virtual summit https://www.france24.com/en/20200914-eu-presses-china-on-market-access-human-rights-during-virtual-summit

Deutsche Welle, 14/09/2020: EU pushes China on trade, human rights at virtual summit https://p.dw.com/p/3iTId

RFI News, 14/09/2020: EU, China look to cement ties at virtual summit despite rifts https://www.rfi.fr/en/europe/20200914-eu-china-look-cement-ties-virtual-summit-despite-rifts-human-rights-covid-19

EurActiv, 14/09/2020: EU-China summit to weigh geopolitics and trade as tensions mount https://www.euractiv.com/section/eu-china/news/eu-china-summit-to-weigh-geopolitics-and-trade-as-tensions-mount/1505689/

Politico, 14/09/2020: Merkel gets China video chat instead of ‘jewel in the crown’ https://www.politico.eu/article/merkel-gets-china-video-chat-instead-of-jewel-in-the-crown/

EUObserver, 15/09/2020: EU tells China to prove investment deal is worthwhile https://euobserver.com/eu-china/149428

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Commentary and Analysis

Institut Montaigne: Blog, 02/09/2020: EU-China Relations: Smoke, Mirrors and Reality https://www.institutmontaigne.org/en/blog/eu-china-relations-smoke-mirrors-and-reality

Politico, 15/09/2020: Why China’s Xi Jinping is the world’s most dangerous man https://www.politico.eu/article/xi-jinping-china-most-dangerous-man-in-the-world/

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