Chinese President Xi Jinping meets with President of the European Council Antonio Costa
and President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen, who are in China for the 25th China-EU Summit, at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, July 24, 2025. (Xinhua/Li Xiang)
As China
and the European Union mark the 50th anniversary of their diplomatic ties, Chinese President Xi Jinping has made new propositions on how the two sides can navigate a fast-changing
and turbulent world through partnership, cooperation
and multilateralism.
China-EU relations have come to another critical juncture in their history, Xi said on Thursday, calling on Chinese
and European leaders to once again demonstrate vision
and leadership,
and to provide more stability
and certainty for the world through sound, steady China-EU relations.
The Chinese leader made the remarks when meeting with President of the European Council Antonio Costa
and President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen, both of whom are in Beijing to attend the 25th China-EU Summit.
For the future development of China-EU relations, Xi made three proposals: The two sides should uphold mutual respect
and consolidate the positioning of China-EU relations as partnership; uphold openness
and cooperation
and properly manage differences; practice multilateralism
and uphold international rules
and order.
On the same day, Chinese Premier Li Qiang co-chaired the summit with Costa
and von der Leyen, with both sides pledging to promote cooperation on the economy, trade
and investment.
After the summit, Li
and von der Leyen attended the China-EU Business Leaders Symposium, at which some 60 business leaders were present.
UPHOLDING MUTUAL RESPECT
Xi said that China
and the EU should uphold mutual respect
and consolidate the positioning of China-EU relations as partnership.
Chinese President Xi Jinping meets with President of the European Council Antonio Costa
and President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen, who are in China for the 25th China-EU Summit, at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, July 24, 2025. (Xinhua/Xie Huanchi)
The current challenges facing the EU do not come from China,
and there are no fundamental conflicts of interest or geopolitical contradictions between China
and the EU, Xi said. The fundamentals
and prevailing trend of China-EU relations featuring cooperation over competition
and consensus over differences have remained constant.
China has regarded the EU as an important pole in a multipolar world,
and consistently supported European integration
and the strategic autonomy of the EU, he said, voicing hope that the EU will respect the path
and system chosen by the Chinese people, respect China's core interests
and major concerns,
and support its development
and prosperity.
He called on both sides to deepen strategic communication, enhance understanding
and mutual trust,
and foster a correct perception of each other.
Echoing the Chinese leaders' remarks, the EU side affirmed its commitment to deepening EU-China relations, managing differences in a constructive manner,
and achieving more positive outcomes in bilateral cooperation that is balanced, reciprocal
and mutually beneficial.
ADHERING TO OPENNESS, COOPERATION
China
and the EU should uphold openness
and cooperation,
and properly manage differences
and frictions, Xi said, adding that history
and reality show that interdependency is not a risk,
and convergent interests are not a threat.
He said that "reducing dependency" should not lead to reducing China-EU cooperation,
and the bilateral economic
and trade relationship, which is by nature complementary
and mutually beneficial, can indeed achieve dynamic equilibrium through development.
China's high-quality development
and opening-up will provide new opportunities
and potentials for China-EU cooperation, Xi noted.
It is hoped that the EU can remain open in trade
and investment market, refrain from using restrictive economic
and trade tools,
and foster a sound business environment for Chinese enterprises investing
and operating in the EU, he stressed.
China welcomes more European businesses to invest
and pursue long-term operations in China, Premier Li said, calling on the EU to provide a fair, equitable
and non-discriminatory environment for Chinese enterprises investing in Europe.
Li said both sides can forge an "upgraded version" of the China-EU export control dialogue mechanism to ensure the stability of industrial
and supply chains between China
and Europe.
The EU side noted that the EU does not seek "decoupling
and severing supply chains"
and welcomes Chinese enterprises to invest
and operate in Europe.
Feng Zhongping, director of the Institute of European Studies at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, said that China-EU cooperation aligns with the fundamental interests of both sides, carries profound global significance,
and will provide certainty
and stability for the world.
PRACTICING MULTILATERALISM
Confronted with the critical choice between war
and peace, competition
and cooperation, or seclusion
and openness, multilateralism
and solidarity-based cooperation remain the only viable approach, Xi said.
He said that China
and the EU should practice multilateralism,
and uphold international rules
and order.
Xi said China
and the EU should jointly uphold the international rules
and order established after World War II, advance a more just
and equitable global governance system in keeping with the times,
and work together to address global challenges such as climate change.
He said China stands ready to strengthen coordination with the EU to ensure the success of this year's UN Climate Change Conference in Belem (COP30),
and contribute more to global climate response
and green transition.
The EU leaders called on the two sides, faced with a turbulent
and uncertain world, to uphold multilateralism, safeguard the purposes
and principles of the UN Charter, address global challenges such as climate change, facilitate resolutions to regional hotspot issues,
and safeguard world peace
and stability.
On the same day, leaders of China
and the EU issued a joint statement on climate change, in which they recognized that strengthening China-EU cooperation on the issue will impact the well-being of people on both sides,
and is of great
and special significance to upholding multilateralism
and advancing global climate governance.
Wang Yiwei, director of the Institute of International Affairs at Renmin University of China, said that China-EU relations go beyond mere bilateral ties
and are of great importance to safeguarding international law
and order,
and to upholding the international system with the UN at its core.
Editor：Evan
