EU tells Xi Jinping that China must show investment deal worthwhile
The European side said Beijing must follow up recent offers to pursue fairer economic policies with more concessions in order for an investment deal to be achieved by year-end
Bloomberg Last Updated at September 16, 2020 02:17 IST
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Chinese President Xi Jinping speaks during a video meeting with German Chancellor Angela Merkel and other EU leaders
The European Union stepped up demands on China to open its market further to foreign investors, seeking to keep alive a goal for a far-reaching agreement this year even as disagreements over human right issues could fuel uncertainty.
Following a video conference that brought together German Chancellor Angela Merkel, EU summit chair Charles Michel, European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen and Chinese President Xi Jinping, the bloc’s representatives said the ball is in China’s court to meet a 2020 target date for sealing the long-sought investment deal.
The European side said Beijing must follow up recent offers to pursue fairer economic policies with more concessions in order for an investment deal to be achieved by year-end.
“China has to convince us that it is worth having an investment agreement,” von der Leyen told reporters in Brussels after the video conference, which replaced an original plan for a full EU-China leaders’ meeting in Germany. “We need China to move.”
While Xi agreed that both sides need to “accelerate” the negotiations for the deal, he shrugged off Europe’s “lecturing” over human rights issues and doubled down on the stance that any criticism of Beijing’s policies in Xinjiang and Hong Kong is meddling in China’s internal affairs, according to official Xinhua News Agency.
“There is no universal path for human rights development, and no single best way to protect human rights,” Xi told the EU leaders. “I believe Europe could find good solutions to its own problems. China doesn’t accept a lecturer on human rights.”
Michel told reporters that Xi appeared to be willing to allow visits by diplomats into the far western province of Xinjiang -- where Uighur Muslims have been detained in mass internment camps. But Merkel said details still needed to be worked out.
Strained Ties
The EU and China have been in negotiations since 2013 on a bilateral pact that would reduce Chinese restrictions on European companies. In April last year, the EU and China set a target date of end-2020 for reaching an “ambitious” investment deal.
EU-China relations have been strained this year by alleged Chinese disinformation about the coronavirus, by Beijing’s controversial national-security law for Hong Kong and by stepped-up European efforts to protect domestic manufacturers from foreign competitors.
Still, the bloc is keen to show economic rewards from a policy approach toward China that is less confrontational than that pursued by U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration.
The EU argues that the global economic slump triggered by the coronavirus strengthens the case for an accord that would open the Chinese market more to foreign investors.
Merkel said an EU-China investment deal this year is still possible, telling reporters in Berlin that “the whole thing has gotten a political impulse” as a result of Monday’s video conference.
“This is about protecting our own strategic interests,” Merkel said. “In the last 15 years, China has become much stronger economically -- that means the demand for reciprocity, for a level playing field, is of course today very much justified.”
First Published: Wed, September 16 2020. 02:11 IST
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EU tells Xi Jinping that China must show investment deal worthwhile
Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan Slams BJP State Chief: Lost His Mental Stability
"Lost His Mental Stability": Kerala Chief Minister Slams BJP State Chief
Pinarayi Vijayan, when asked about the BJP chief's allegations, said K Surendran has "lost his mental stability" and, without any sense of decency, has been raising allegations without any basis.
Pinarayi Vijayan said K Surendran has "lost his mental stability" (File)
Thiruvananthapuram:
Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Tuesday lashed out at BJP state chief K Surendran, for raising "baseless allegations" against the former's family in the LIFE Mission (Livelihood Inclusion and Financial Empowerment) project "kickbacks" matter.
Mr Vijayan, when asked about the BJP chief's allegations, said K Surendran has "lost his mental stability" and, without any sense of decency, has been raising allegations without any basis.
"The party (BJP) should ponder as to why it has kept a mentally flawed person as its president. Surendran has lost his mental stability. It's as if he can say anything. Shouldn't there be a sense of basic decency? Shouldn't he say what his statements are based on? Should one just issue statements on a whim?," Mr Vijayan asked.
At a press meet on Monday, Mr Surendran alleged that the investigation agencies should probe and interrogate Mr Vijayan's daughter and said his family members were allegedly involved in securing kickbacks in the Life Mission project.
"Pinarayi Vijayan is not like Mr Surendran. I'm used to opposing corruption.That habit has helped me keep my head high whenever there are allegations against me.
When someone sees that I rule without corruption, such allegations will arise. Can my daughter or son or family be labelled corrupt because of pure allegations?" Mr Vijayan asked.
Life Mission project was envisaged by the state government for construction of free houses for homeless poor in the state and at least 2.26 lakh houses had been built and handed over to homeless people in the state under the project so far.
Mr Surendran has alleged that the fire incident at the state secretariat was intended to remove the evidence against the chief minister's office in the gold smuggling case.
However, the state government had rebutted this allegation and said none of the files were destroyed as the filing was under the e-filing system since long back.
The Opposition parties have been alleging that the prime accused in the gold smuggling case was involved in securing commissions with relation to the Life Mission project.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
Israel, UAE And Bahrain Sign Abraham Accord; Trump Says "Dawn Of New Middle East"
US President Donald Trump on Tuesday hosted Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and foreign ministers of the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain for the signing of the historic Abraham Accord, which is the first Arab-Israeli peace deal in 26 years. "We are here this afternoon to change the course of history. After decades of division and conflict we mark the dawn of a new Middle East," Trump said, moments before the accord was signed at the South Lawns of the White House.
Last Updated: September 16, 2020, 1:27 AM IST
Jha Washington, Sep 15: US President Donald Trump on Tuesday hosted Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and foreign ministers of the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain for the signing of the historic Abraham Accord, which is the first Arab-Israeli peace deal in 26 years. “We are here this afternoon to change the course of history. After decades of division and conflict we mark the dawn of a new Middle East,” Trump said, moments before the accord was signed at the South Lawns of the White House.
The UAE was represented by Foreign Minister Abdullah bin Zayed and Bahrain by Foreign Minister Abdullatif Al Zayani. The Arab Accord — essentially bilateral agreements with Israel — does not mention the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. “Thanks to the great courage of the leaders of these three countries we take a major stride towards a future in which people of all faiths and backgrounds live together in peace and prosperity,” Trump said.
The president pointed out that these were the only two peace deals between Israel and the Arab States in more than a quarter of a century. Egypt was the first Arab State to sign a peace deal with Israel in 1979. Jordon signed a peace pact in 1994. “Now we have achieved two in a single month and there are more to follow,” Trump said.
As per the agreements, the UAE and Bahrain will establish embassies, exchange ambassadors, cooperate and work together with Israel across a range of sectors, including tourism, trade, healthcare and security. “They are friends. The Abraham Accords also open the door for Muslims around the world to visit the historic sites in Israel and to peacefully pray at Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem, the third holiest site in Islam,” Trump said, amidst applause and cheer from more than 200 invited guests. Together these agreements will serve as the foundation for comprehensive peace across the entire region, Trump said.
Netanyahu described the accord as a “pivot of history”, heralding a new dawn. “For thousands of years the Jewish people have prayed for peace. For decades, the Jewish state has prayed for peace and this is why today we are filled with such profound gratitude,” he said. “You have heard from the president that he has already lined up more and more countries. This was unimaginable a few years ago. But with resolve, determination, a fresh look at the way peace is done, this is being achieved,” Netanyahu said.
Netanyahu said Israel is eager to invest in a future of prosperity, and peace. “We’ve already begun to cooperate on combating coronavirus and I am sure that together we can find solutions to many of the problems that afflict our region and beyond,” he said.
Foreign Minister Zayed said the UAE is witnessing a change in the Middle-East, one that gives hope around the world. “We are witnessing today a new trend that will create a better path for the Middle-East,” he said.
“This peace accord which is a historic achievement for the United States of America, the state of Israel and the United Arab Emirates will continue to have a positive impact as we believe that its reverberations will be reflected on the entire region, every option other than peace would signify destruction, poverty, and human suffering,” he said. This new vision which is beginning to take shape as we meet today for the future of the region for love, youthful energy is not a slogan that we raise for political gain. Everyone looks forward to creating a more stable prosperous and secure future,” the minister said.
Foreign Minister Zayani said peace between the Kingdom of Bahrain and the State of Israel is a step on the road to genuine and lasting security and prosperity. For too long the Middle East has been set back by conflict and mistrust causing uncontrolled destruction and thwarting the potential of generations of our best and brightest young people. Now I am convinced we have the opportunity to change that, said the minister from Bahrain. Soon after the signing, the White House, in a statement, said the deal will strengthen peace in the region, giving Muslims increased access to the Al Aqsa Mosque. This will counter the extremists who use the false narrative that the Al Aqsa Mosque is under attack and that Muslims cannot pray at this holy site, it said.
President Trump helped broker the historic agreement between the UAE and Israel to normalise relations in August. Last week, Trump announced that Bahrain had also reached a deal with Israel to normalise relations. The deal between the UAE and Israel represented a significant breakthrough in diplomatic relations between the two nations as the Trump administration works to facilitate cooperation between Arab nations and Israel. Trump, seeking re-election in the November 3 presidential election against his Democratic Party rival, Joe Biden, is hoping that the two major diplomatic deals would help him in the polls.
Disclaimer: This post has been auto-published from an agency feed without any modifications to the text and has not been reviewed by an editor
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