China and Europe talk climate, rights and business
China's Xi Jinping, Germany's Angela Merkel and France's Emmanuel Macron were talking ahead of the COP26 in Glasgow and the G20 in Rome. Air links between the countries could soon be restored. Chinese President Xi Jinping spoke of improving relations with Europe in a video call with German and French leaders on Monday. German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Emmanuel Macron raised the issues of human rights and climate change in the virtual meeting. The conversation took place at a time when relations have been strained by Chinas increasingly authoritarian approach to Hong Kong and the Uyghur minority. Frances Elysee palace said the talks were held to discuss the leaders different positions ahead of the COP26 climate summit in Glasgow and the G20 summit in Rome later this year. Xi said he wanted better cooperation between Europe and China while Macron and Merkel spoke to Xi about the importance of halting Chinese government support for coal power stations. The three national leaders spoke of working towards a fairer environment for both Chinese companies in Europe and European companies in China. Amid ongoing negotiations in Vienna, the possibility of reviving the Iran nuclear deal was also discussed with the French spokesperson saying it should be done "as soon as possible." China, Germany and France remain signatories to the accord. The French statement said that "air links should also resume as soon as possible while respecting the principle of reciprocity" after the global pandemic. Macron and Merkel made "demands concerning the fight against forced labor," raising China's Uyghur minority with President Xi. To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Human rights groups have reported that the Chinese authorities have imprisoned up to 1 million Uyghurs and other mostly Muslim minorities. The groups say the prisoners have then been forced to work in labor camps, with less common allegations of forced sterilization for some women. The meeting came after the Chinese Communist Party's centenary celebrations, when Xi said the economic superpower was on an "ireversible" path away from colonial humiliation. jc/msh (dpa, AFP, AP, Reuters)