Chinese President Xi Jinping attends a meeting at the United Nations European headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, January 18, 2017. REUTERS/Denis Balibouse
Reuters: Exclusive: EU preparing early China summit in message to Trump - sources
The European Union is preparing an early summit with China in April or May in Brussels to promote free trade and international cooperation in the face of a more protectionist and inward-looking Washington, three EU officials said.
China and the EU hold a summit every year, usually in July, and a date has yet to be fixed formally for 2017. One of the officials said Beijing had requested it to take place as early as possible. China's Foreign Ministry declined to comment.
The EU believes China wants to use the summit to press home President Xi Jinping's vigorous defense of open trade and global ties at the World Economic Forum in Davos in January, in response to the new U.S. President Donald Trump.
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WNU Editor: I always laugh when I see the words "China" and "free trade" in the same sentence. China is pushing for this summit because they know that it is only a matter of time before the U.S. imposes trade restrictions/duties/etc. on Chinese products .... and China in turn will then need to find new markets. My prediction .... the EU is very protective when it comes to trade .... this Chinese push will not succeed.
