The EU‑China summit 2025 in Beijing on 24 July marked fifty years of diplomatic relations but took place amid deteriorating relations. Chinese president Xi Jinping and Premier Li Qiang welcomed European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen and European Council president Antonio Costa for talks that were originally planned for two days but shortened to one at Xi’s suggestion.
EU-China strategic tensions and Ukraine diplomacy
Von der Leyen called for more balance in the economic relationship and warned that “sustained imbalances” could undermine cooperation. She said the EU is at a turning point and urged China to offer credible solutions. Costa reiterated the EU’s call for China to use its influence on Russia to end the war in Ukraine.
Xi defended China’s trade policies and said that the EU’s problems were not caused by China. He warned against protectionism and attempts at economic decoupling, stressing that building “walls and fortresses” would lead to isolation.
Trade tensions at the EU-China summit 2025
The EU has recently introduced new tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles and other goods, citing market distortion and state subsidies. China has criticised these moves as unfair and politically motivated. During the summit, Xi expressed concern over “unilateral actions” by the EU that he said violated World Trade Organization principles.
Von der Leyen acknowledged the EU’s concerns over overcapacity and subsidies but emphasised that cooperation could still be mutually beneficial if rules were respected and trade was fair.
Ukraine war pressures EU-China diplomatic ties
The war in Ukraine remained a central issue. Costa called on China to play a more active diplomatic role, while the EU urged Beijing to maintain a neutral stance and refrain from supporting Russian military operations directly or indirectly. China has repeatedly denied supplying weapons to Russia but maintains close economic ties with Moscow.
Despite the disagreement, both sides expressed support for a “just and sustainable peace”. The EU stressed the importance of the UN Charter and international law.
Climate cooperation amid EU-China tensions
The summit concluded with a joint declaration reaffirming cooperation on climate change, low-emission technologies, and methane management. This symbolic outcome underlined shared interests in global challenges despite tensions on trade and geopolitics.
The meeting also marked the 50th anniversary of EU‑China diplomatic ties, but the atmosphere was far from celebratory. As strategic rivals with deep economic links, Brussels and Beijing now face the challenge of managing their differences while keeping key communication channels open.
