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China Rejects Human Rights Criticism as EU Seeks Trade Rebalance

Henry Ridgwell

   LONDON - Europe has called on China to take down trade barriers and
   rebalance their economic relationship, following a virtual summit held
   Monday among EU leaders and Chinese President Xi Jinping.

   European leaders also raised human rights concerns, but Beijing has
   rejected what it calls interference in its affairs.

   Monday's videoconference was a substantially downsized version of the
   original plan to hold a face-to-face summit among all 27 European Union
   heads of state and the Chinese president in the German city of Leipzig.

   A resurgent coronavirus pandemic in Europe forced the change of plan.
   The virtual meeting was attended by Xi, along with European Council
   President Charles Michel; European Commission President Ursula von der
   Leyen and German Chancellor Angela Merkel, whose country holds the
   rotating presidency of the council of the EU.

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