While EU-China relations have been strained for several months, no tangible results were expected from the bilateral summit between the two parties in Beijing on Thursday 24 July. Trade imbalances and Chinese support for Russia remain the main concerns of the EU, which is celebrating 50 years of diplomatic relations with China this year.
“We have different political and economic systems. We don’t always agree. However, we have a common interest in pursuing constructive and stable relations, anchored in respect for an international order based on rules”, said the President of the European Council, António Costa, in his introductory remarks.
Alongside the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, he held talks with the Chinese President, Xi Jinping, in the morning, before an exchange with the Prime Minister, Li Qiang, in the afternoon. The High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Kaja Kallas, was also present.
Friction between the EU and China escalated in the run-up to the meeting (see EUROPE 13674/3), prompting Beijing to cancel a second part of the summit devoted to business, originally scheduled for the following day, Friday 25 July, in the city of Hefei.
Instead, a round table bringing together around sixty European and Chinese business representatives was set up on the fringes of the summit (see EUROPE 13678/38).
Trade. The central issue in the EU/China dispute is the commercial side. During the discussions, the EU began by voicing its concerns about Chinese industrial overcapacity and problems of access to the Chinese market for European companies.
European leaders even warned that the EU would not hesitate to take “proportionate, legally compliant action to protect its rightful interests” if China did not engage in “constructive” dialogue to find solutions to these problems, according to the Commission’s minutes.
For the time being, António Costa and Ursula von der Leyen have urged their counterparts to restore access to the Chinese market for European meat, cosmetics and pharmaceutical products, and to put an end to punitive tariffs on European brandy, pork and dairy products. They also expressed concern about Chinese export restrictions on rare earths and permanent magnets.
China has taken a step towards the EU on this last point: it has agreed to set up a mechanism to facilitate Chinese exports of rare earths and permanent magnets to the EU.
Turning to other issues, Xi Jinping confined himself to general remarks on economic cooperation between the two blocs. He said only that the EU should also remain open and “refrain from using instruments that restrict trade and the economy”.
Russia. On the basis of discussions initiated during the EU-China strategic dialogue (see EUROPE 13673/21), the EU has once again called on China to use its influence to ensure that Russia puts an end to its war of aggression in Ukraine.
In particular, it has repeatedly urged China not to supply ‘dual-use’ equipment to strengthen Russia’s military-industrial base.
At a press conference, António Costa said that both parties had agreed on “the need to find a just and lasting peace as quickly as possible”.
On the Chinese side, public statements simply referred to “a changing and turbulent world”. Xi Jinping said that Chinese and European leaders should “make the right strategic choices that will meet the expectations of the people and stand the test of history”.
Climate. The only point on which the two parties agreed ahead of the summit was a joint declaration on shared climate commitments, as part of the 10-year anniversary of the Paris Agreement on climate change.
In particular, the EU and China are committed to presenting their respective Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), setting a target for reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 2035, before the COP30 in Belém (Brazil) in November. They also indicated their desire to pursue bilateral cooperation in areas such as the energy transition, methane emissions management, carbon markets and green and low-carbon technologies.
Human rights. At the Summit, the EU also reiterated its deep concerns about the human rights situation in Xinjiang and Tibet, and the continuing erosion of fundamental freedoms in Hong Kong (see EUROPE 13660/3).
It also reiterated its concerns about rising tensions in the Taiwan Strait and increased instability in the East and South China Seas. (Original version in French by Pauline Denys)