In an intense virtual meeting on Monday, European leaders told Chinese President Xi Jinping to open up its markets to foreign investors, step back from a crackdown on Hong Kong and respect ethnic minorities in China.

The national security law for Hong Kong continues to raise grave concerns, said European Council President Charles Michel in a press conference after the meeting, which were also attended by German Chancellor Angela Merkel and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.

“The EU and our member states have responded with one voice. Democratic voices in Hong Kong should be heard, rights protected and autonomy preserved. We told China to keep their promises to the people of Hong Kong and the international community,” said Michel.

Xi vowed that Chinese people will not accept “an instructor” on human rights and oppose “double standards” in the meeting, according to Xinhua News Agency.

“There is no one-size-fits-all path to human rights development in the world. There is no best way, only the better one,” said Xi, stressing that China opposes anyone creating instability, division and chaos in China and any countries meddling in its internal affairs.

“China is willing to strengthen exchanges with the European side based on the principle of mutual respect so that the two sides can both make progress,” said Xi.

The EU-China’s leaders meeting addressed four key topics – climate change, economic and trade issues, international affairs and human rights, and COVID-19 and economic recovery.

Besides Hong Kong, the EU leaders have also reiterated their concerns over China’s treatment of minorities in Xinjiang and Tibet, as well as the treatment of human rights defenders and journalists. They have also asked for a team of independent observers to be sent to Xinjiang, where Uyghur Muslims are detained in mass concentration camps.

Dialogue with China on human rights will continue, said Merkel, stressing that demand for a more level playing field is justified as China has become much stronger economically in the last 15 years.

“Europe needs to be a player, not a playing field,” said Michel. “We have a robust trading relationship with China. But we want more fairness, a more balanced relationship that also means reciprocity and a more level playing field.”

“We are really serious about having access to the Chinese market and tearing down the barriers,” said von der Leyen. “China has to convince us that it is worth having an investment agreement.”

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