What’s behind the European rush to rekindle ties with China?

As the war in Ukraine drags on, Beijing is being viewed as a critical player in any resolution of the conflict

Chinese President Xi Jinping's visit to Russia has unleashed a flood of initiatives from European leaders, all eager to hear what China can say or do to end the war in Ukraine. PHOTO: EPA-EFE
New: Gift this subscriber-only story to your friends and family

Chinese President Xi Jinping’s recent trip to Russia yielded little. After days of talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin, no fresh initiatives to end the war in Ukraine emerged.

Yet Mr Xi’s trip to Moscow had one important practical outcome: It unleashed a flood of initiatives from European leaders, all planning to visit Beijing and all eager to hear what China can say or do to end the war.

Already a subscriber? 

Read the full story and more at $9.90/month

Get exclusive reports and insights with more than 500 subscriber-only articles every month

Unlock these benefits

  • All subscriber-only content on ST app and straitstimes.com

  • Easy access any time via ST app on 1 mobile device

  • E-paper with 2-week archive so you won't miss out on content that matters to you

Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.