Chinese President Xi Jinping met with European Council President Antonio Costa and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen in Beijing this week, marking 50 years of diplomatic relations between China and the EU. The high-level dialogue emphasized shared commitments to economic collaboration and global stability as geopolitical tensions reshape international alliances.
"Both being viewed as 'big guys' in the international community, China and the EU should keep their bilateral relationship growing in the right direction," President Xi stated during the talks. The meeting highlighted a $780 billion bilateral trade volume – up from $2.4 billion five decades ago – and $260 billion in cumulative investments as evidence of deepening interdependence.
The China-Europe freight rail network, which saw its 100,000th train reach Germany last year, symbolizes this enduring partnership. Analysts note that combined EU-China economic output exceeds one-third of global GDP, giving both sides significant leverage in addressing climate change, supply chain resilience, and digital governance.
While addressing trade imbalances and political differences remains critical, leaders reaffirmed cooperation on green energy transitions and multilateral institutions. This alignment comes as developing nations increasingly look to China and Europe to counterbalance protectionist trends elsewhere.
