Belgian prime minister meets Xi Jinping in Beijing, vows to oppose decoupling
- Alexander De Croo also holds discussions with Premier Li Qiang and says on X that ‘China and the EU remain important partners in tackling many of the global challenges’
- Beijing reopens its pork market to Belgian products after a five-year ban related to African swine fever
Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo became the latest European leader to travel to Beijing and meet Chinese President Xi Jinping on Friday, with the pair pledging to boost cooperation and oppose decoupling.
Xi encouraged De Croo, whose government now holds the rotating six-month presidency of the European Union, to “play a positive role” in “fostering progress in China-EU relations in the new year”.
On the sidelines of his meetings with officials, though, De Croo warned Chinese leaders to stop interfering in European politics – remarks taken to refer to a scandal involving a far-right Flemish politician who is suspected of being on the payroll of China’s intelligence services for years.
“I hope that we have the opportunity to discuss a number of topics between our countries, on our positions related to human rights … our position related to the respect, and 100 per cent respect, of each other’s political systems – and respecting that without interference,” De Croo told reporters in Beijing between meetings with Premier Li Qiang and Xi. The remarks were first reported by Politico.
Earlier this week, Belgian authorities began a criminal investigation into Frank Creyelman, a former member of the Vlaams Belang party, who is alleged to have received money from Chinese authorities in exchange for working to influence Europe’s policies towards China. Creyelman was expelled from the party in December.
