European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President Antonio Costa met with Chinese President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Qiang in Beijing for the 25th EU-China summit. The meeting, initially planned as a two-day summit in Brussels with Xi's attendance, was ultimately held in Beijing after Xi declined the invitation to travel to Brussels. Despite positive statements from Chinese officials about normalizing relations and pragmatic cooperation, significant tensions remain.

These tensions stem from disagreements over human rights issues in Xinjiang, Tibet, and Hong Kong; China's close ties with Russia, including economic support and potential arms embargo circumvention; and a growing trade imbalance favoring China. The EU recently sanctioned Chinese banks and companies, leading to reciprocal threats from China. Experts predict few major breakthroughs due to these fundamental contradictions.

The EU aims to maintain open communication channels with China while navigating complex geopolitical dynamics and reducing reliance on China.

Impact Statement: The summit's outcome will significantly influence the trajectory of EU-China relations, impacting trade, geopolitical strategies, and human rights concerns.