Latest news with #EuropeanUnion-China
Euractiv
a day ago
- Business
- Euractiv
Half a century on, China and the EU keep pitching for common ground
The European Union-China summit held in Beijing, and shortened at the request of the Chinese, delivered exactly as expected - lengthy discussions on longstanding issues and a tacit agreement to disagree on Ukraine. Although the mood before the summit was sour, European Council President António Costa walked out of Beijing's Great Hall of the People in optimistic spirits, visible in the joint press conference with Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. Thanking China for the 'frank' and 'open' discussions, Costa highlighted the EU's commitment to deepening the bilateral relationship with Beijing, addressing key concerns with honesty. Pointing to the EU and China's significant role in shaping the world order, Costa said the sides discussed ways to jointly tackle climate change, peace and security, as well as trade distortions, imbalances, and market access. 'Fair and mutually beneficial trade relations are possible and should be our joint aim,' Costa said, before giving the floor to von der Leyen. Smiles, camera, inflexion! The Commission President repeatedly used the phrase 'inflexion point' to describe the current relationship between the EU and China, which has reached the 50-year mark. She called on China to 'come forward with real solutions'. Suggesting that the EU may need to reduce its level of openness to Chinese imports if it does not see more reciprocity from Beijing, von der Leyen also said that Chinese leaders had expressed willingness to support more consumption. Beyond overcapacity, the sides also tackled the issue of critical raw materials supply from China, with von der Leyen announcing an 'upgraded export supply mechanism', designed to check and solve problems along the way. During the summit, the sides agreed to a joint press statement on climate change, committing to turn respective 'climate targets into tangible outcomes'. 'Proper handling of frictions' Mincing no criticism towards Brussels' trade actions against Beijing, Chinese President Xi Jinping urged European officials visiting the capital to 'properly handle differences and frictions'. 'The current challenges facing Europe do not come from China,' Xi told von der Leyen, Costa, and the EU's High Representative for Foreign Affairs, Kaja Kallas, in the Great Hall of the People. 'It is hoped that the EU can remain open in the trade and investment market, and foster a sound business environment for Chinese enterprises investing and operating in the EU,' Xi stressed to his guests. The Chinese President also called on EU leaders to 'make correct strategic choices', denouncing Brussels' hawkish stance towards his country. Ukraine, agree to disagree But the one topic where divergences cannot be veiled or sugar-coated is that of Ukraine. Answering journalists, von der Leyen said China should use its influence and convince Russia to negotiate peace. 'China has an influence on Russia, like the EU has an influence on Ukraine. It is our expectation that China uses this influence to make sure that Russia is coming seriously to the negotiation table,' the Commission President said. In his remarks, Costa reminded everyone that China is a permanent member of the UN Security Council, and as such has a special responsibility to push for a ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine. However, no Chinese report from the summit mentions Ukraine or what has been dubbed China's 'tacit support' of Russia. What could have been A Chinese state media editorial framed the summit marking the 50th anniversary of China-EU diplomatic ties as a moment to reflect on the strength and potential of the relationship, rather than its challenges. While China and the EU do not see eye to eye on every issue, disagreement should not be mistaken for confrontation. Instead, it promotes dialogue as the best way to manage differences and deepen mutual interests. The commentary urges a return to mutual respect and constructive engagement, asserting that framing China as a 'systemic rival' only fuels misunderstanding and undermines the potential of one of Europe's most important partnerships. Now that the summit has drawn to a close, its legacy remains uncertain. Lofty declarations and diplomatic courtesies aside, the real measure of success will lie in whether words translate into tangible progress. The coming months will test whether this 50-year-old relationship is entering a new chapter – or merely circling familiar ground. [Edited By Brian Maguire | Euractiv's Advocacy Lab ]
Miami Herald
5 days ago
- Business
- Miami Herald
EU-China summit exposes tensions over trade imbalances, Ukraine
July 24 (UPI) -- A European Union-China summit in Beijing on Thursday saw Chinese President Xi Jinping's call for closer ties met with a reality check from European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen over China's $359 billion trade surplus with the EU. Xi told the high-level gathering, marking 50 years of diplomatic relations between Brussels and Beijing, that rising current geopolitical frictions demanded the two sides strengthen their "mutually beneficial" relationship. "The more severe and complex the international situation is, the more China and the EU should strengthen communication, enhance mutual trust, and deepen cooperation," Xi told the EU delegation headed by von der Leyen and European Council President Antonio Costa. Telling them that the problems Europe was facing "do not come from China," Xi urged the EU to deal with tensions and disagreements properly, keep its market open and refrain from resorting to measures targeting trade, including tariffs. However, Von der Leyen pushed back, saying relations were at a critical point where the Chinese leadership needed to prioritize the huge trade imbalance between the EU and China. "As our cooperation has deepened, so have the imbalances. We have reached an inflection point. Rebalancing our bilateral relations is essential. Because to be sustainable, relations need to be mutually beneficial. To achieve this, it is vital for China and Europe to acknowledge our respective concerns and come forward with real solutions," she said. Trade tensions have taken a toll on the relationship after Brussels, accusing China of unfair subsidies, hiked tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles while Beijing targeted imports of European brandy, pork, and dairy products with anti-dumping investigations. China has also restricted government purchasing of EU-made medical devices in retaliation for Brussels making it much more difficult for Chinese suppliers to bid for EU medical equipment contracts. This was against a backdrop of a trade relationship in which Chinese exports to the EU reached $609.4 billion in 2024, while EU exports to China were just $250.4 billion. Official Chinese data for the first half of this year show the goods-trade surplus up 21% on the same period in 2024, although the Chinese totals are somewhat lower than the EU's figures. A rapprochement hoped for by Beijing between the world's second- and third-largest trading blocs, both at the forefront of U.S. President Donald Trump's blanket tariff hikes, has gradually evaporated amid the airing of grievances. That saw the summit, which was originally planned to run through Friday, cut to one day. In meetings with Xi in the morning and Chinese Premier Li Qiang after lunch, von der Leyen and Costa raised not only the trade issue but also China's backing for Russia in the Ukraine war and end export controls on rare earth minerals, of which China has among the world's largest reserves. Von der Leyen has previously accused China of leveraging its "quasi-monopoly on rare earths not only as a bargaining chip, but also weaponizing it to undermine competitors in key industries." Costa told Xi he needed to use China's sway to push Moscow to halt the war. The two sides did, however, manage to see eye-to-eye on the climate, issuing a joint communique vowing to "demonstrate leadership together" and develop proposals to combat the emissions causing global warming in time for this year's COP, the U.N. Climate Change Conference, in Brazil in November. Copyright 2025 UPI News Corporation. All Rights Reserved.
UPI
5 days ago
- Business
- UPI
EU-China summit exposes tensions over trade imbalances, Ukraine
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen (F) and Chinese Premier Li Qiang arrive at Beijing's Great Hall of the People on Thursday amid the 25th EU-China Summit. Photo by Kumar A. Manesh/EPA July 24 (UPI) -- A European Union-China summit in Beijing on Thursday saw Chinese President Xi Jinping's call for closer ties met with a reality check from European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen over China's $359 billion trade surplus with the EU. Xi told the high-level gathering, marking 50 years of diplomatic relations between Brussels and Beijing, that rising current geopolitical frictions demanded the two sides strengthen their "mutually beneficial" relationship. "The more severe and complex the international situation is, the more China and the EU should strengthen communication, enhance mutual trust, and deepen cooperation," Xi told the EU delegation headed by von der Leyen and European Council President Antonio Costa. Telling them that the problems Europe was facing "do not come from China," Xi urged the EU to deal with tensions and disagreements properly, keep its market open and refrain from resorting to measures targeting trade, including tariffs. However, Von der Leyen pushed back, saying relations were at a critical point where the Chinese leadership needed to prioritize the huge trade imbalance between the EU and China. "As our cooperation has deepened, so have the imbalances. We have reached an inflection point. Rebalancing our bilateral relations is essential. Because to be sustainable, relations need to be mutually beneficial. To achieve this, it is vital for China and Europe to acknowledge our respective concerns and come forward with real solutions," she said. Trade tensions have taken a toll on the relationship after Brussels, accusing China of unfair subsidies, hiked tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles while Beijing targeted imports of European brandy, pork, and dairy products with anti-dumping investigations. China has also restricted government purchasing of EU-made medical devices in retaliation for Brussels making it much more difficult for Chinese suppliers to bid for EU medical equipment contracts. This was against a backdrop of a trade relationship in which Chinese exports to the EU reached $609.4 billion in 2024, while EU exports to China were just $250.4 billion. Official Chinese data for the first half of this year show the goods-trade surplus up 21% on the same period in 2024, although the Chinese totals are somewhat lower than the EU's figures. A rapprochement hoped for by Beijing between the world's second- and third-largest trading blocs, both at the forefront of U.S. President Donald Trump's blanket tariff hikes, has gradually evaporated amid the airing of grievances. That saw the summit, which was originally planned to run through Friday, cut to one day. In meetings with Xi in the morning and Chinese Premier Li Qiang after lunch, von der Leyen and Costa raised not only the trade issue but also Russia's backing for Russia in the Ukraine war and end export controls on rare earth minerals, of which China has among the world's largest reserves. Von der Leyen has previously accused China of leveraging its "quasi-monopoly on rare earths not only as a bargaining chip, but also weaponizing it to undermine competitors in key industries." Costa told Xi he needed to use China's sway to push Moscow to halt the war. The two sides did, however, manage to see eye-to-eye on the climate, issuing a joint communique vowing to "demonstrate leadership together" and develop proposals to combat the emissions causing global warming in time for this year's COP, the U.N. Climate Change Conference, in Brazil in November.
New Straits Times
6 days ago
- Business
- New Straits Times
EU-China talks test unity as tariffs and war frictions dominate
EXPECTATIONS are rock-bottom for a European Union-China summit today that will test European resolve and unity as the bloc faces intense trade pressure from Beijing and the United States, analysts say. European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen and European Council president Antonio Costa plan to press Chinese leaders on rare earths and the war in Ukraine, both areas of tension, during the summit in Beijing. There is little hope for headway, at a time both sides face major challenges sustaining economic growth and Europe struggles to shore up support for Ukraine. Both sides may reach a modest joint statement on climate, a source familiar with the planning said, but no other tangible achievements are expected. In recent speeches, von der Leyen has revived hawkish China rhetoric, accusing China on July 8 of "enabling Russia's war economy" and flooding global markets with overcapacity. "We know that we don't see eye to eye with China on many issues, but we believe that it is essential to have this kind of very direct and open and constructive conversation," said one EU official. A spokesperson for the European Commission referred to a statement announcing the summit, which said leaders would discuss ways of ensuring "a more balanced, reciprocal and mutually beneficial trade relationship". In response to Reuters' questions, the Chinese Foreign Ministry referred to a spokesperson's statement on Monday. "Some people in Europe continue to ... exaggerate specific economic and trade issues and make groundless accusations against China on the Ukraine issue, causing unnecessary interference to China-EU relations," its spokesperson said. The 27-member European Union has also been negotiating hard with Washington after President Donald Trump threatened 30 per cent tariffs on most EU exports from Aug 1, with prospects for a broader trade deal fading. At the Beijing summit, China hopes to press the EU for a solution to its tariffs on China-built electric vehicles, for which Beijing claims price commitment negotiations are in the "final stages". Last week, China threatened to respond to EU sanctions on two Chinese banks and five firms over the Ukraine war. Its Commerce Ministry said on Monday the sanctions "seriously harmed trade, economic and financial ties". Other trade disputes are simmering in the background. China retaliated against EU restrictions on medical device procurement with its own curbs on July 6, and slapped duties on French cognac producers. China's exports to the EU grew in May while its US exports plunged 34.5 per cent in value terms the same month, sparking fears Chinese trade overcapacity is being diverted to the bloc due to US tariffs on Chinese goods. There is also a growing sense that EU firms are collateral damage for China's rare earth export controls that primarily targeted Washington but have disrupted European defence and automotive supply chains. In return for concessions on rare earths, China's asks could include reviving a long-stalled investment agreement after Beijing lifted sanctions on European Parliament members in May, and pushing back on US export curbs on Dutch firm ASML's chipmaking equipment. China has raised both in the weeks leading up to the summit, two sources familiar with the matter said. "The mood is extremely pessimistic in Europe regarding the summit," said Mathieu Duchatel, a director at the Institut Montaigne think tank in Paris. He said that Washington rejected previous EU proposals for coordination on China policy. "There is a sense that the gloves are completely off on the Chinese side. "They sense the transatlantic relationship has weakened and are trying to seize the opportunity." Diplomats and analysts also say that China is growing increasingly frustrated behind closed doors with European officials' repeated insistence on the war in Ukraine, which Beijing views as an obstacle in the relationship. There is little space for constructive dialogue on this, another EU official said, with Chinese counterparts denying evidence of Chinese firms' involvement in supplying dual-use goods to Russia.
