European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen stated it is “fundamental that China and Europe recognise each other’s concerns and present real solutions.” Meeting Chinese President Xi Jinping at the Great Hall of the People alongside European Council President António Costa, von der Leyen described rebalancing the EU-China relationship as “essential” in her initial public remarks. She characterised the bilateral ties as among the “most important in the world” but currently at a “turning point.”
Von der Leyen highlighted the “special” nature of her visit – her third to Beijing as Commission President and the first of her second term – coinciding with 50 years of diplomatic relations. During this period, she noted, “cooperation has grown in depth and scope,” with both Europe and China undergoing “profound changes.” She cited the creation of the EU and its single market of 450 million people, while China emerged as a manufacturing and technological power lifting 800 million out of poverty – “a transformation that has impressed and inspired the world.” Today, she added, “Europe and China are two of the world’s three largest economic and trading powers, and our relationship is one of the most important and significant globally.”
The EU is China’s largest trading partner, while China ranks as the EU’s third largest, with daily bilateral goods trade exceeding €2 billion. “Europe has supported China’s economic development for decades and continues to do so,” von der Leyen stated. However, she cautioned, “as our cooperation has deepened, imbalances have also increased. We have reached a turning point. Rebalancing our bilateral relationship is essential. Because, to be sustainable, relations must be mutually beneficial.” Achieving this, she stressed, requires mutual recognition of concerns and concrete solutions.
On climate change and environmental protection, von der Leyen pointed to a “positive agenda,” citing a shared “strong commitment to the Paris Agreement and its full implementation,” and pledging joint work for a successful COP30 in Belém. “The next 50 years of our relations are yet to be written,” she concluded. “It is an opportunity to rebalance them for the Chinese people and the European people.”
Chinese President Xi Jinping, meeting Costa and von der Leyen, emphasised that China and the EU must “firmly grasp the right direction of bilateral relations development” and “work together to open the door to an even brighter next 50 years.” Facing “accelerated changes unseen in a century and an interconnected international situation of turmoil,” Xi urged leaders from both sides to “demonstrate vision and responsibility once again” and strengthen “mutual trust.”
President Xi, as reported by state news agency Xinhua, stated that the “challenges the EU faces do not come from China,” underlining the “need to manage differences and friction.” He expressed hope that the EU would “keep its markets open on trade and investment,” refraining from using “restrictive economic and trade tools.” Both sides, Xi added, should “deepen their green and digital partnership and promote mutual investment and cooperation.”
European Council President António Costa urged China to “use its influence” on Russia to help end the war in Ukraine during the meeting. Costa, accompanied by von der Leyen, stated he wanted to urge China, “as a permanent member of the Security Council, to use its influence on Russia so that it respects the UN Charter and ends its war of aggression against Ukraine.”
Costa reiterated the EU’s commitment to deepening its partnership with China, seeking “concrete progress in addressing concerns with respect, goodwill and honesty, and working together to uphold multilateralism.” He stressed the need for “concrete progress on trade and economic issues,” adding that “both sides want our relationship to be balanced and mutually beneficial.”
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