Uyghurs: EU does not want "escalation" with China

The European Union does not want "

" with China, after the mutual sanctions taken against the Chinese minority of Uyghurs, assured Friday (May 7th) the ambassador of the EU in China.

Read also: Forced labor of Uyghurs: complaint in France against four multinational clothing companies

Last March, Europeans sanctioned Chinese officials accused of repressing Muslims in Xinjiang (Northwest).

Beijing responded by sanctioning European personalities including members of Parliament in Strasbourg.

This controversy seems to jeopardize the ratification of the Sino-European investment agreement concluded at the end of 2020, but Ambassador Nicolas Chapuis wanted to be optimistic during a press conference. "

" he said. Despite the tensions, high-level contacts continue between China and EU member states and Beijing "

", noted the ambassador.

On the investment deal, he acknowledged that Chinese sanctions against MEPs are not helping ratification. But he said work was continuing with China's Commerce Ministry on drafting the final text of the treaty, which could be submitted to parliament later this year or early next year.

The president of the European Chamber of Commerce in China, Jeorg Wuttke, a strong supporter of the investment agreement, was less optimistic on Friday, however. The agreement "

" he admitted at another press conference. By targeting MEPs, the Communist regime has, according to him, dealt a "

"

blow

to the text. "

" he said.

Jeorg Wuttke expressed concern after the controversy in March that targeted companies like Sweden's H&M, boycotted in China for pledging not to buy cotton from Xinjiang where Uyghurs are subjected to forced labor, d 'after human rights organizations. European companies are caught "

" and it is "

", he lamented.