October 11, 2021

European Council President Charles Michel is expected to focus on human rights and trade issues during a phone call Friday with Chinese leader Xi Jinping amid strained relations between Brussels and Beijing, according to an EU official.

EU-China relations have been deteriorating over the past year over Beijing's treatment of its Muslim Uyghur minority in the Xinjiang region as well as a showdown with Lithuania over Taiwan. Some EU countries including Lithuania have been calling for a tougher approach to China as a result.

On Sunday, EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell vowed to deal with Beijing “from a position of unity and strength.”

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