In an hourlong interview forward of a European diplomatic mission to Beijing, China’s ambassador to the European Union mentioned that critics had misinterpreted his nation’s relationship with Russia, and recommended their ties might not be as limitless as their leaders as soon as declared.

The Chinese language ambassador, Fu Cong, spoke earlier than Presidents Emmanuel Macron of France and Ursula von der Leyen of the European Fee journey to China on Wednesday for a three-day journey.

E.U. leaders are struggling to steadiness their deep commerce ties with China towards American strain to toughen their insurance policies, particularly in gentle of China’s help for Russia because the warfare started. China tries to current itself as a mediator, insisting that it respects the territorial integrity of Ukraine whereas endorsing a few of Moscow’s narrative concerning the warfare.

Listed below are just a few highlights of the interview:

Simply three weeks earlier than Russia invaded Ukraine Presidents Vladimir V. Putin and Xi Jinping signed a joint assertion declaring “no limits” to their international locations’ friendship. However Mr. Fu mentioned China was not on Russia’s facet on the warfare and that some folks “intentionally misread this as a result of there’s the so-called ‘no restrict’ friendship or relationship.”

He added, “‘No restrict’ is nothing however rhetoric.”

Mr. Fu mentioned that China had not offered navy help to Russia, nor acknowledged its efforts to annex Ukrainian territories, together with Crimea and the Donbas.

Beijing has not condemned the invasion, he mentioned, as a result of it understood Russia’s claims a couple of defensive warfare towards NATO encroachment, and since his authorities believes “the foundation causes are extra difficult” than Western leaders say.

He insisted the dearth of a name was of no nice significance, that Mr. Xi may be very busy, and that there have been frequent lower-level contacts between the 2 international locations. Western analysts have contrasted that lack of communication with the shut contact of Mr. Xi and Mr. Putin, together with a visit by Mr. Xi to Moscow final month.

“I do know individuals are fixated on the presidential name,” Mr. Fu mentioned. “The truth that President Xi just isn’t chatting with Zelensky doesn’t signify that China is on the facet of Russia on the Ukrainian challenge.”

Mr. Fu blasted the Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken for saying in February that China was contemplating offering Russia with deadly weapons. Mr. Blinken, Mr. Fu mentioned, was spreading “lies on TV.”

“I had the impression as if two individuals are quarreling with one another,” Mr. Fu mentioned. “So this ambivalence signifies that Europe has not formulated a coherent coverage towards China.”

In her speech, Ms. von der Leyen described the E.U.-China relationship as having develop into “extra distant and tougher,” and endorsed the view of China as an assertive world participant searching for to develop into “the world’s strongest nation.”

However Mr. Fu welcomed her assertion that the bloc ought to “de-risk” its relationship with China by setting new floor guidelines reasonably than “decoupling” or withdrawing. “I feel that could be a optimistic message, we’ve to provide her that,” he mentioned.

China and E.U. nations have vital commerce ties — China was the third-largest vacation spot of E.U. exported items in 2022, and the biggest exporter of products to the bloc — and Mr. Fu mentioned this week’s journey can be a chance to refocus on the basics of that relationship.

There are hurdles past China’s stance on Ukraine, together with problems with human rights. The E.U. imposed sanctions on Chinese language officers and entities in 2021 over the remedy of ethnic Uyghurs within the Xinjiang area. Beijing responded with sanctions on E.U. lawmakers, and an E.U.-China funding settlement has been politically frozen since.

Mr. Fu mentioned that he hoped each side would take away sanctions and finalize the stalled commerce deal, often known as the Complete Settlement on Funding. E.U. diplomats mentioned that in personal conferences in latest weeks, Mr. Fu has recommended China may unilaterally elevate its sanctions, if it helped unblock the settlement and produced a type of reciprocal response.

“We’re open to strategies in the event that they suppose that if China does one factor, and we’ll have the ability to do one other, nicely let’s discuss this, and we’ll be comfortable to discover all avenues,” Mr. Fu mentioned of the European facet.

Along with criticizing Mr. Blinken, Mr. Fu accused america of unfairly making an attempt to include China’s improvement below the pretext of safety considerations.

He mentioned Europe ought to carve out its personal insurance policies and develop extra “strategic autonomy,” as an alternative of following Washington’s lead.

In saying this, Mr. Fu hit on an open query in E.U. policymaking circles: had Europe drawn too near the U.S. after their deep alignment over supporting Ukraine, and did this now pose a threat of Europe not performing in its personal pursuits vis-à-vis China?

That query is the backdrop to Mr. Macron’s go to, because it was to the go to of Germany’s chancellor, Olaf Scholz, in November, with each accompanied by businessmen desirous to proceed to do offers with China.

“E.U. claims to be a giant heart, an influence heart on the planet, an impartial energy heart on the planet, as a lot as america, as a lot as China,” Mr. Fu mentioned. “So why does it must take heed to america on a regular basis?”

Chris Buckley contributed reporting from Taipei, Taiwan, and Monika Pronczuk from Brussels.