China: Invitation to four European Foreign Ministers

Its Foreign Ministers Ireland, Poland, Hungary and Serbia will visit China from tomorrow, as announced today by the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in an indication that an effort is being made to strengthen relations with Europe after the ‘freezing’ of an investment treaty, reports APE.

The European Parliament suspended ratification of an investment deal with China this month until Beijing lifts sanctions on European politicians in a move that has exacerbated tensions in Sino-European relations. Beijing’s sanctions were in response to Western sanctions against Chinese officials accused of mass detention of Uighur Muslims in northwest China.

The four ministers will visit China from 29 to 31 May At the invitation of Foreign Minister Wang Yi, Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian told reporters on a regular basis today. During the visit, Wang will have private meetings with the four ministers and will discuss bilateral relations and China-Europe relations, Zhao said. China hopes the visit can deepen co-operation and “promote the post-pandemic economic recovery,” he said.

Poland and Hungary, EU member states, as well as non-EU Serbia, are among the ’17 +1 ‘countries in Central and Eastern Europe, a group led by China. The group recently lost a member following the departure of Lithuania. In May, the Lithuanian parliament called genocide the way China treats them. Uighurs, The country also said it would open a trade representative office this year in Taiwan, which China considers its own territory, angering Beijing. The ministers invited to China do not come from countries whose parliaments have called the treatment of Uighurs genocide, something Beijing denies. Serbia and Hungary have also approved and administered Chinese vaccines against COVID-19.