Logo 15 Jan 2025

Xi Jinping calls new European Council president

It’s just the Costa doing business.

On Tuesday, Xi Jinping held a call with António Costa, the newly appointed President of the European Council (EUCO).

Some context: Costa served as Portugal’s prime minister until April last year and assumed the EUCO presidency in December.

  • In his new role, he’ll wield significant agenda-setting and consensus-building influence on the bloc's key policy issues, including its approach to China as trade tensions with the country simmer.

Xi made a strong pitch for cooperation (MoFA):

  • “China and Europe have no fundamental conflicts of interest or geopolitical contradictions, and are mutually beneficial partners.”
  • “As long as both sides respect each other, treat each other equally, and engage in frank dialogue…major achievements can be made.”

Costa expressed his support but also emphasized that “relations need to be balanced and based on a level playing field” (Reuters).

  • He also called on China to help broker peace in Ukraine (SCMP).

Get smart: China’s approach to the EU in 2025 will be influenced by several variables that are currently in flux, including:

  • Political instability in France and Germany
  • The imminent threat of Trump’s tariffs
  • A possible shakeup in Ukraine

Beijing will bide its time until the geopolitical landscape settles.

Get smarter: In the meantime, China will push for better ties with Brussels while building up leverage to strike back against EU protectionism if push comes to shove.

sources

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It’s just the Costa doing business.
On Tuesday, Xi Jinping held a call with António Costa, the newly appointed President of the European Council (EUCO).
Some context: Costa served as Portugal’s prime minister until April last year and assumed the EUCO presidency in December.

In his new role, he’ll ...