• EU-China summit dominated by trade tensions and geopolitical issues, particularly regarding Ukraine.
• Leaders emphasize the need for rebalancing trade relations to address a significant trade deficit.
• Summit format reduced from two days to one amid escalating tensions and low expectations.
• Climate cooperation remains a highlighted area of potential agreement amid broader disagreements.
• Chinese President Xi urges the EU to make "correct strategic choices" for mutual cooperation.

Chinese President Xi Jinping met with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President Antonio Costa on Thursday in Beijing, marking a summit that aims to address pressing trade tensions and geopolitical issues such as the Russia-Ukraine war. Notably, this gathering commemorates 50 years of diplomatic ties between the EU and China, yet expectations were low following recent escalations in diplomatic friction, which resulted in the summit being shortened from two days to a single day at Beijing's request, according to SCMP and BBC.

With the summit overshadowed by concerns regarding trade imbalances and China’s support for Russia, von der Leyen expressed the need to rebalance the EU-China relationship. She referred to the ties as being at an “inflection point” and emphasized that addressing existing trade deficits is essential for future cooperation, as highlighted in statements made post-summit by Reuters and Reuters.

During the summit, Xi criticized the EU's recent trade actions against China, urging the bloc to "properly handle differences and frictions." He suggested that building barriers would lead to isolation rather than cooperation, reinforcing the importance of open trade dialogues amidst the backdrop of global market complexities. This perspective underscored China’s contention that the ongoing challenges facing Europe are not derived from its policies, as reported by Reuters and Channel News Asia.

Amid these discussions, the leaders are expected to engage on the topic of China’s export controls on rare earth materials, which have impacted EU industries, particularly in sectors reliant on these resources. The summit did conclude with a joint statement reaffirming commitments to climate action, indicating that while tensions run high, some areas of cooperation remain viable, according to statements by Al Jazeera and Reuters.

As a result of mounting frustrations regarding trade disputes—especially concerning tariffs on electric vehicles and Chinese market access—interest from Brussels has shifted towards ensuring more favorable trade conditions without compromising critical economic interests, highlighting a challenging path ahead for EU-China relations that could shape broader geopolitical dynamics, as analyzed by Al Jazeera and The Jakarta Post.