Xi Seeks to Steady China-Europe Ties With Call to Council Chief
- Chinese president to speak with Charles Michel on Friday
- Row over human rights have stalled a landmark investment deal
Xi Jinping on Dec. 30.
Photographer: Li Xueren/Xinhua/Getty Images
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Chinese President Xi Jinping will speak with European Council chief Charles Michel, the latest indication that Beijing and Brussels are seeking a way forward following a spat over alleged human rights abuses in Xinjiang.
The conversation scheduled for 10:30 a.m. Friday (Brussels time) is one of several announced by senior Chinese and European officials in recent weeks, as Beijing prepares for German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s exit. The call with Michel appeared to be part of an effort by Beijing to bolster alternative lines of communication as it seeks to resolve a dispute over tit-for-tat Xinjiang sanctions without Merkel, one of its most preferred negotiating partners.