EU, China mark 50 years of diplomatic ties – DW – 07/24/2025
Both sides have significant disagreements over trade, with the EU complaining over uneven access to the Chinese market for EU firms, China's chokehold on rare earth minerals, as well as industrial policies and huge subsidies favoring Chinese companies.
After Chinese President Xi Jinping declined an invitation to attend, the talks were moved from Brussels to Beijing, and then reduced to one day from two.
Read the full story about the current state of ties between China and the European Union.
China is a "critical partner" to the European Union with a range of shared interests, state news agency Xinhua said in a commentary piece on Thursday.
It comes hours before a key EU-China summit to mark the 50th anniversary of the diplomatic partnership.
"As the international landscape grows increasingly fraught, the anniversary offers a timely reminder: China is a critical partner to Europe, not a systemic rival," Xinhua wrote.
"Like all major economic players, China and the EU do not agree on everything. But disagreement does not equal confrontation," Xinhua said, adding that the relationship needs more trust.
The European Union and China are celebrating the 50th anniversary of the establishment of bilateral diplomatic relations.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President Antonio Costa are in Beijing Thursday for the occasion and will meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping, Premier Li Qiang and other top leaders.
China and the EU are each other's second most important trading partners, but both sides quarrel over market access, industrial policies and Russia's war in Ukraine, among other issues.
Brussels has pitched Thursday's talks as "a clear opportunity for detailed, frank, substantive actions around all aspects of our relationship."
Beijing said this week ties with the bloc were at a "pivotal juncture" as both China and the EU contend with an aggressive US trade strategy under President Donald Trump.
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Welcome to DW's coverage of the EU-China summit.
The summit will mark the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the EU and China.
It comes as both Beijing and Brussels grapple with heightened geopolitical and economic tensions. Relations between the two sides have also been under stress due to trade frictions.
Stay tuned for the latest updates from the summit.
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