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China-EU investment deal: Xi Jinping and European leaders set for final push to seal agreement
- The Chinese president will discuss the final details with Angela Merkel and Ursula von der Leyen on Wednesday, with Emmanuel Macron also a possible participant
- One diplomatic source said Brussels expects agreement to be ready by the end of the week
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Chinese President Xi Jinping and top European Union leaders are expected to clear the last remaining hurdles to a landmark investment deal in a phone conversation on Wednesday, the South China Morning Post has learned.
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German Chancellor Angela Merkel is expected to join the call alongside Charles Michel and Ursula von der Leyen, the presidents of the European Council and Commission, according to multiple sources with direct knowledge of the preparations.
Sources added that French President Emmanuel Macron could also be attending. His office has not responded to a request for comment.
An EU source added that the call with Xi was “planned, but not confirmed as yet”.
The EU expects the Chinese leader to clear the agreed language concerning Beijing’s commitment to ratify international covenants on forced labour – an issue that threatened to derail the agreement at the last minute – while negotiators are finalising the details on market access.
“We expect the deal to be ready by the end of this week,” an EU diplomatic source said.
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