Statement on the Forthcoming EU-China Summit Go back »

2025-07-22 | All chapters

Background

The 25^th EU-China Summit will take place in Beijing, China on 24^th July 2025.

It is expected that President of the European Council, António Costa, and President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, will meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping and Chinese Premier Li Qiang at the Summit.

Stance

It is positive that the EU and China are going to meet at the highest level. Despite the number of current challenges to the relationship, it shows pragmatism to maintain such engagements as it keeps the door open to future dialogues, including at the working level during which more concrete progress may be made on more specific challenges.

On the economic front, the Chamber anticipates that the EU side will raise a number of important issues, including the need to address the current trade imbalance, to remove market access and regulatory barriers facing European firms operating in China, and to establish a level-playing field for domestic Chinese firms and foreign-invested enterprises. Other challenges that are likely to be raised include the recent export controls imposed on rare earth elements and increasing localisation requirements that are constraining European companies’ ability to participate in procurement processes in China.

In terms of possible outcomes, the Chamber expects to see formal acknowledgement of the areas where cooperation is still possible and necessary, including the need to accelerate and deepen collaboration on the green transition and tackling climate change.

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