Brussels (AFP)

Europeans and Chinese are organizing a videoconference summit on Monday to try to resolve their many differences and prepare for an extraordinary meeting of their leaders, the culmination of which will be the signing of an agreement on investment protection.

Washington sees this summit with a very bad eye. "The Chinese Communist Party wants to force you to choose" between the United States and China, warned US Foreign Minister Mike Pompeo.

Representatives of the EU, Charles Michel, the President of the Council and Ursula von der Leyen, the President of the Commission, will meet at 10HOO (08:00 GMT) with Prime Minister Li Keqiang. President Xi Jinping is expected to take part in the interview, according to Chinese officials.

"China attaches great importance to this meeting and is ready to work with the EU to achieve positive results," said Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian.

Everyone expressed their expectations and concerns during preparatory meetings. Mistrust dominates and shows through in the form of veiled warnings.

Europeans are concerned about Beijing's growing hold on Hong Kong with the questioning of the autonomy of the territory and the attacks on fundamental freedoms.

The EU demanded the release of several human rights defenders on Friday. She also denounced the disinformation campaigns orchestrated by China on the Covid-19 pandemic.

Josep Borrell, the head of European diplomacy, passed the message on to his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi during an interview on June 15.

The European Parliament supported these pressures with the adoption on Friday of a very harsh resolution in support of Hong Kong. Elected officials have called for sanctions against the leaders guilty of the repression if the new security law adopted in Beijing is applied in the territory.

The Chinese, for their part, are concerned about the new European legislation on foreign investments and the distancing of the EU towards them.

Engaged in a commercial and political conflict with Washington, Beijing seeks support. But the Europeans refuse to let themselves be caught in the game of tensions between the two powers.

"Europe will not be the battleground of the United States and China," European Industry Commissioner Thierry Breton said on Sunday.

- Ambitious agreement -

"Despite the many differences with the US administration, the transatlantic partnership remains the most important relationship for the EU," said Josep Borrell.

But "China is a necessary partner," he insisted. Trade in goods between China and the EU was worth 1.5 billion euros a day in 2019, according to Commission data.

"The relationship with China is complex and will continue to be," said Borrell. It must be "based on trust, transparency and reciprocity".

Beijing responded with an implicit warning.

"China hopes that the EU will create a fair, impartial and non-discriminatory environment" for investment, said its ambassador to the EU Zang Ming. "The capital is very sensitive and loose. In the event of a change of wind, the capital will vote with its feet," he warned.

Europeans and Chinese have started negotiations to conclude an investment protection agreement that is of great interest to Beijing. "China is committed to concluding on time," said his ambassador.

But Europeans still see no progress.

The postponement of the extraordinary summit with President Xi planned for September in Leipzig by German Chancellor Angela Merkel with all her counterparts gives the negotiators a little extra time. The virtual summit should give a signal in this direction.

"We need to continue negotiations. We need a good agreement and we are not there yet. We will take the necessary time," said the European Commission.

"A bad deal is not an option," German ambassador to Brussels Michael Clauss warned on Sunday. Germany takes up the six-month presidency of the EU on July 1.

© 2020 AFP