EU-China Leaders' Meeting: Cooperative Effort in Tumultuous Circumstances

The 25th EU-China Summit, held in Beijing, China, on July 24, 2025, marked a significant milestone as it celebrated the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the European Union (EU) and China. The summit was attended by António Costa (President of the European Council), Ursula von der Leyen (European Commission President), Xi Jinping (Chinese President), and Li Qiang (Premier of China), along with Kaja Kallas, the High Representative of the EU for Foreign and Security Policy.

Both sides expressed their willingness to deepen their partnership and tackle global challenges such as climate change together. The EU and China committed to fully implementing the Paris Agreement and leading global climate action. A key goal is to achieve visible progress by the time of the UN Climate Conference (COP30) in November 2025 in Belém, Brazil.

The EU plans to reduce its global emissions share to 4 percent by 2030. In addition to cooperation on emissions trading systems, the EU and China will collaborate more closely on methane management, biodiversity protection, and combating plastic pollution.

However, the EU emphasized that more intensive cooperation must lead to concrete progress, particularly in achieving a balanced and fair economic relationship. The EU had a trade deficit in goods of 305 billion euros with China in 2024. The EU called for more reciprocity in digital cooperation, as European companies currently have restricted access to the Chinese market. Concerns were raised about unclear Chinese data security rules and restrictive regulations on cross-border data flows.

The EU also raised concerns about trade defense measures against European exports such as brandy, pork, and dairy products, as well as China's export controls on rare earths and permanent magnets. The EU plans to extend the protection of geographical indications from the current 200 to 550 products.

The summit also focused on digital cooperation between the EU and China, as well as cybersecurity. The EU expressed concerns about systemic distortions and overcapacities that disrupt market balance and called for progress on long-standing market access issues. The EU also expressed its ongoing concern about the human rights situation.

The person who met with Chinese Premier Li Qiang on July 24, 2025, during the 25th EU-China Summit in Beijing, China, is not explicitly mentioned in the available search results. The EU and China discussed further strengthening comprehensive bilateral cooperation and current global and geopolitical issues.

In conclusion, the 25th EU-China Summit in Beijing aimed to strengthen the partnership between the EU and China, focusing on climate action, trade cooperation, and digital and cybersecurity issues. The summit also served as a platform to address concerns and work towards a more balanced and fair economic relationship.