Half a century after the establishment of relations between China and the EU, and against a backdrop of deteriorating transatlantic relations, the European Union and China held their 25th summit in Beijing.

Expectations from the summit have been tempered by uncertainty over global trade and politics.

Chinese President Xi Jinping criticised Brussels's recent trade actions against Beijing at a tense summit dominated by concerns on trade and the Ukraine war.

An EU-China summit in Beijing wrapped up early on Thursday amid rising tensions, despite efforts to foster cooperation on trade, climate, and global stability.

The 25th EU-China Summit in Beijing on 24 July 2025 marked 50 years of diplomatic relations. Leaders discussed trade imbalances, global governance, climate action, and strategic dialogue. Despite challenges,

That's the approximate size of the European Union's trade deficit with Beijing, which has doubled over the past decade and become a larger issue for the bloc's officials. "We need to see progress on this issue,

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen called for an "essential" rebalancing of trade ties with China during a tense summit on Thursday with President Xi Jinping, saying ties stood at an "inflection point",

First in-person EU-China summit since 2023 is exposing a divide between the bloc and Beijing just months after earlier signs of a possible detente.

European Council President Antonio Costa said Tuesday the European Union aims to "upgrade" its relationship with Japan to "a new level" through an upcoming summit in Tokyo, focusing on trade and security.