The European Union wants “fair rules of the game with China” in order to avoid the risks of energy “dependence”, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said, defending her position on this issue during a visit to Washington, reports AFP.

“We don’t want the kind of dependence we experienced with Russia on fossil fuels,” von der Leyen explained during an interview organized on Monday in Strasbourg by the European Newsroom, which brings together several European news agencies.

“For example, we don’t want to be dependent on a critically important raw material. That’s why we’re diversifying and strengthening our supply chains with like-minded partners,” continued the European chief executive, who recently returned from a trip to the US. of the state

During that visit to the White House, she agreed on Friday with US President Joe Biden to “immediately” begin negotiations on a “targeted agreement on strategic metals” of the energy transition, aimed at reducing dependence on Beijing.

The position taken in Washington by the head of the European executive power regarding China caused irritation in the EU.

These geopolitical topics “required a mandate” from the leaders of the member states, criticized the European official on the condition of anonymity.

During discussions on the subject in October, these European leaders expressed their concern to find their own way to China, without siding with the United States and allowing themselves to be drawn into the logic of “systematic confrontation”, recalls AFP.