EU President Ursula von der Leyen emphasized the need for the European Union and China, as significant trading partners, to address their differences. This statement came as the two sides commenced their first in-person EU-China summit in over four years.

In an effort to navigate post-pandemic recovery and mend strained relations, both China and the EU have increased their diplomatic engagement throughout the year.

Von der Leyen, accompanied by European Council President Charles Michel and EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell, expressed gratitude to Chinese leader Xi Jinping for the warm welcome during her second visit to China in 2023.

"But there are clear imbalances and differences that we must address," she said.

"At times our interests coincide," she added, highlighting collaboration between the European Union and China in the fields of artificial intelligence and climate change.

"And when they do not, we need to address and responsibly manage the concerns that we have," she said.

Michel expressed the European Union's interest in establishing a stable and mutually beneficial relationship with China. However, he emphasized that the EU remains committed to promoting European values, including human rights and democracy, during the summit.

Collaborating to address global challenges

The EU aims to use the meetings as an opportunity to engage in discussions on areas of common interest. President Xi urged the European visitors to collaboratively address global challenges in his opening remarks.

The discussions on Thursday are expected to address sensitive issues such as human rights, China's ongoing relationship with Russia amid the war in Ukraine, and the substantial trade gap between the EU and China.

Ursula von der Leyen previously cautioned that the EU would not tolerate the trade imbalance indefinitely and emphasized the bloc's ability to protect its market using available tools. In response, Beijing questioned the coherence of the EU's attempts to restrict exports of sensitive technology to China while seeking a trade balance.

European officials have reiterated their goal to reduce economic vulnerabilities to China, particularly in the aftermath of the Ukraine war highlighting Europe's energy dependence on Russia.

Beijing has emphasized the significance of the meeting, stating that it will play a crucial role in building on past achievements and shaping the future.

According to Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin, China and Europe are partners rather than rivals, with their common interests outweighing their differences.

Ursula von der Leyen and Charles Michel will have a packed schedule in Beijing, including a meeting with Chinese leader Xi Jinping, a working lunch, talks with Premier Li Qiang, and participation in an official dinner and a subsequent news conference.

The EU leaders plan to encourage Beijing to leverage its alleged influence over Moscow to bring an end to the war in Ukraine. The discussions are expected to address the Israeli aggression on Gaza and tensions surrounding Taiwan.

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