China cancelled EU leader's video address at opening of major trade expo

No one from China's foreign ministry or the co-organisers of the expo, China's commerce ministry and the Shanghai city government, responded to Reuters requests for comment.

European Council president Charles Michel. Picture: AP Photo/Geert Vanden Wijngaert

Chinese authorities behind a major trade expo in Shanghai pulled an opening ceremony address by the European Council president that was set to criticise Russia's "illegal war" in Ukraine and call for reduced trade dependency on China, diplomats said.

The pre-recorded video by Charles Michel was meant to be one of several from world leaders and heads of international organisations including Chinese President Xi Jinping at the opening of the China International Import Expo (CIIE) on Friday, three European diplomats told Reuters.