Xi Jinping declines EU summit invitation in Brussels

Chinese President Xi Jinping has declined an invitation to a summit in Brussels celebrating 50 years of EU-China diplomatic ties, according to the Financial Times. Instead, Premier Li Qiang will represent China at the event. This marks a shift from previous summits, where the Chinese president typically attends when held in Brussels. The EU had hoped for Xi's presence to honor the anniversary amid rising tensions between the two sides. Relations have soured since Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022, with the EU accusing China of supporting Russia. The EU also imposed tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles last year, prompting retaliatory measures from Beijing.