The European Union’s top diplomat will head to Beijing next week for meetings with Chinese officials, Ednews informs referring to Bloomberg.
Josep Borrell will arrive in Beijing on July 10 and meet Foreign Minister Qin Gang and other senior figures, according to the EU’s ambassador to Beijing, Jorge Toledo.
Toledo told the World Peace Forum in Beijing on Sunday that Brussels would continue to raise “strategic issues” with China, including human rights practices and Russia’s war in Ukraine. The two sides would continue dialogue on economic and trade issues, likely in September, and could hold a leaders’ summit at the end of the year, he added.
“We want to engage with China in all issues, in our partnership, in our competition and in our systemic rivalry,” Toledo said.
China Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said on July 4 at a regular press briefing in Beijing she didn’t have any information to offer about a visit to China by Borrell.
Borrell’s visit will follow one by EU climate chief Frans Timmermans, who is meeting this week with Chinese officials on climate, biodiversity and environmental protection issues. The pair postponed a visit to China earlier this year because they tested positive for Covid-19.