All articles tagged with #eu china summit
European Union and China held their first in-person summit since 2023, marked by tensions over trade, Ukraine, and recent disagreements, but also efforts to strengthen cooperation, including a climate declaration, amidst a backdrop of strained diplomatic relations.
The upcoming EU-China summit faces low expectations due to ongoing disputes over trade imbalances, China's support for Russia, and recent tensions, with both sides unlikely to reach significant agreements beyond a possible joint climate declaration.
During the EU-China summit, the European Union urged China to stop its firms from selling sanctioned goods to the Russian military, exposing Chinese companies that are circumventing sanctions by selling European-made dual-use products to Moscow. The EU leaders also pressed China to use its influence to end the war in Ukraine and refrain from supplying lethal equipment to Russia. While discussing areas of cooperation such as artificial intelligence and climate change, the EU called on China to do more to reduce methane emissions and shut down coal-fired plants. The summit took place against the backdrop of Italy's decision to exit the Belt and Road Initiative, leaving Xi's flagship infrastructure drive without any G7 members. The EU emphasized the need for fair competition and de-risking in its economic relationship with China. Human rights violations in Xinjiang and Tibet were also raised during the summit.
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.