EU Leaders Seek China's Attention Amid Rising Tensions and Charm Offensive

European Union leaders are meeting with Chinese leader Xi Jinping in Beijing for a summit aimed at resolving deep trade tensions and addressing key economic grievances. The EU arrived with concerns about the trade deficit, subsidies for Chinese companies, and barriers to entry into the Chinese market. While Beijing seeks to stabilize its domestic economy, it also sees the EU as a valuable partner. Expectations for major breakthroughs are low, given the entrenched differences between the two sides. The meeting comes as Europe recalibrates its policy toward China, seeking to diversify supply chains and secure critical technologies. Both sides are expected to look for areas of collaboration, but major concessions from China are unlikely without significant gains in return.