Xi Jinping Declines EU Summit Invitation – Analysts: Multiple Dilemmas at Play

The EU flag outside the European Commission building in Brussels, Belgium.

[People News] May 6 marks the so-called 50th anniversary of "diplomatic relations" between the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and the European Union (EU). However, according to sources cited by the Financial Times on Sunday, Xi Jinping has declined the EU’s invitation to attend a summit in Brussels commemorating the occasion. Instead, Chinese Premier Li Qiang will attend on behalf of Beijing and meet with the President of the European Council and the President of the European Commission.

"According to diplomatic norms and past precedent, the head of state should attend to commemorate half a century of economic and trade cooperation with the EU. In China, the Party controls everything, and the state president is also the Party's general secretary. Yet, Xi Jinping, who insists on personally directing and overseeing everything, has refused the EU’s invitation, which breaches diplomatic conventions. There are likely multiple underlying reasons that the CCP is unwilling to openly discuss," noted a political analyst.

Since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022, tensions between Brussels and Beijing have escalated. While the CCP publicly claims to be "neutral" and supports "dialogue," it has secretly provided military assistance to Russia through civilian channels, positioning itself as an "unlimited partner" and a "true friend" to Moscow. This has deepened EU distrust toward Beijing, exacerbating geopolitical divisions. Analysts suggest that Xi Jinping is well aware of the EU’s true perception of the CCP. He may fear being confronted with uncomfortable questions, similar to the heated exchange between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and former U.S. President Donald Trump at the White House. While Ukraine itself may not be a major concern for Beijing, public questioning of the CCP’s stance on the global stage would be a major scandal with unpredictable consequences. Avoiding the summit altogether may seem like the safer option.

Another reason for Xi’s absence could be worsening trade tensions. Since the Trump administration, the EU has been taking measures unfavorable to China to address the U.S.-China trade war. Last year, the EU imposed high tariffs on Chinese electric vehicle imports, while China responded by raising market entry barriers for European products such as brandy. The two sides remain at an impasse, and relations have yet to thaw. With China's economy on the brink of collapse, the EU has shown no willingness to make concessions. Xi understands that many of the CCP’s self-serving trade policies have also hurt the European economy. If he were to attend the summit, he would find himself in a difficult position—unable to negotiate from a position of strength, with no room to maneuver. This potential embarrassment is another reason to avoid attending.

An even greater concern for Xi is the increasing hostility toward the CCP in Europe. While the UK is no longer part of the EU, recent protests against China’s plan to build a "super embassy" in London have heightened European politicians’ awareness of the CCP’s global influence operations. Many lawmakers are now more willing to publicly discuss Beijing’s interference in foreign governments and societies.

On March 15, thousands of protesters gathered at the site of the Old Royal Mint in London to oppose the construction of a "super embassy" near Tower Bridge—ten times larger than the current Chinese embassy. Local residents and intelligence agencies worry that the new embassy could serve as a hub for espionage, surveillance of dissidents, and even a threat to public safety. At least 24 groups, totaling around 6,000 people, participated in the protest—exceeding the 4,000 demonstrators from a previous protest on February 8. Among them were multiple members of the UK Parliament, including representatives from the opposition Liberal Democrats and the ruling Labour Party. Protesters vowed to continue their resistance.

In the U.S., the House Select Committee on the CCP has raised "serious security concerns" over the embassy project, urging immediate action. The UK government has now assigned Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner to intervene in the matter.

Analysts point out that the CCP has been sowing division globally—fueling political discord in the U.S. and Taiwan through election interference, tightening control over Hong Kong with its National Security Law, and supporting conflict in regions like the Middle East, North Korea, and Ukraine. The CCP’s ultimate goal, driven by its atheist ideology, is to spread chaos and dismantle world order. Xi Jinping is well aware of Beijing’s role in destabilizing Europe, and he likely anticipates tough questions if he attends the summit. Instead, sending Premier Li Qiang—who is focused on administrative tasks—provides an easy way to deflect responsibility. Li can claim ignorance of the Party’s strategic decisions or insist that his views do not represent the CCP leadership. Although the UK issue is separate from the EU, Beijing still prefers to avoid direct confrontation.

Clearly, Xi Jinping’s absence is both a reflection of the current strained relationship between China and the EU and a sign of future uncertainty. The 50th-anniversary summit is expected to focus on trade, but the EU is unlikely to be pleased with China’s stance. Amid ongoing trade conflicts, the outlook for China-EU relations remains bleak. So far, the Chinese Foreign Ministry has not responded to media inquiries about the summit.