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Von Der Leyen Says EU-China Ties Are at ‘Inflection Point’
CHINA, JUL 24 – EU-China relations face challenges from trade imbalances, export controls, and sanctions amid broader geopolitical issues, with China’s trade surplus hitting nearly $143 billion in six months, EU officials said.
- On July 24, 2025, EU leaders met Xi Jinping and Li Qiang to discuss disputes, marking the first in-person summit since 2023.
- Trade and geopolitical disputes have fueled friction, from export controls on rare earth magnets to EV tariffs, and support for Russia in Ukraine.
- The EU demanded an end to investigations into pork, brandy and dairy and lifting of rare earth magnet export restrictions, and von der Leyen said the relationship reached an inflection point.
- Xi Jinping said their ties were at a historical juncture, while Li Qiang cautioned that any rift will be costly.
- Later this year, both sides committed to updated climate plans for 2035, ahead of the UN’s COP30 summit in Brazil.
25 Articles
25 Articles
EU-China summit sees Brussels highlight Beijing's 'systematic distortions'
EU-China relations are at an “inflection point”, EU commission president Ursula von der Leyen told Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping at a summit in Beijing on Thursday. But Brussels officials reported some progress towards China loosening its rules on rare earths exports and on the climate.
In Beijing, Ursula von der Leyen considers China-EU relations to have reached 'an inflection point'
The summit between the two economic superpowers, intended to celebrate 50 years of diplomatic ties, has highlighted the frustrations of the European Union, which faces a €300 billion trade deficit with China.
Only 100 days have passed, but there are light years between the summit held yesterday by the President of the European Commission, Ursula Von der Leyen, with Chinese leader Xi Jinping, and the...
Ursula von der Leyen traveled to Beijing for negotiations in the shadow of Trump's tariff war and spoke out against the Chinese leadership, which is accumulating a huge trade surplus.
Europe threatens to be crushed between the US and China. During the visit to Beijing, EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen tries to give the trade bloc more room for manoeuvre – a failure.
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