Xi calls for 'proper handling of frictions' with EU
Expectations were low for the summit in the Chinese capital marking 50 years of diplomatic ties after weeks of escalating tension and wrangling over its format, with the duration abruptly halved to a single day at Beijing's request.
"The current challenges facing Europe do not come from China," Xi told visiting European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President Antonio Costa, state news agency Xinhua said.
He urged the EU to "adhere to open co-operation and properly handle differences and frictions", after von der Leyen earlier called for a rebalancing of trade ties with the world's second largest economy, saying relations were at an "inflection point".
"Improving competitiveness cannot rely on 'building walls and fortresses', Xi added, according to Xinhua. "'Decoupling and breaking chains' will only result in isolation."
"It is hoped that the European side will keep the trade and investment market open and refrain from using restrictive economic and trade tools," he said.
During the meeting in Beijing's Great Hall of the People, von der Leyen told Xi: "As our co-operation has deepened, so have imbalances," according to a pool report.
"We have reached an inflection point," she added, urging China to "come forward with real solutions".
She was referring to the EU's trade deficit with China, which ballooned to a historic 305.8 billion euros ($A544 billion) last year.
EU trade actions in the past year have targeted Chinese exports of EVs among other goods, and its officials have repeatedly complained about Chinese industrial overcapacity.
In a further veiled criticism of Brussels' recent hawkish stance on China, Xi also warned EU leaders to "make correct strategic choices".
The two EU officials are set to meet Chinese Premier Li Qiang later. Both sides hope to reach a modest joint statement on climate, now one of the rare bright spots in their co-operation.
In a posting on X, however, von der Leyen struck a more conciliatory tone, describing the summit as an opportunity to "both advance and rebalance our relationship".
Topics the Europeans are expected to raise in the talks are electric vehicles and China's rare earth export controls that disrupted supply chains worldwide, causing temporary stoppages in European automotive production lines in May.
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