China offers closer ties with EU ahead of July summit
Beijing is stepping up diplomatic overtures to the European Union by calling for deeper cooperation and dialogue as the two sides prepare for a major summit this summer
China has extended an invitation to European leaders in a bid to deepen ties with the European Union ahead of a major summit scheduled for July in Beijing. President Xi Jinping said China was ready to expand mutual openness and properly manage frictions. The EU and China mark the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations.
The Chinese foreign ministry confirmed it would welcome European Council president Antonio Costa and European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen for a new round of high-level talks. The agenda would include strategic, economic, green and digital cooperation.
Both sides have been stepping up dialogue amid mounting global trade uncertainty.
The renewed outreach comes as Beijing wants to ease tensions and diversify partnerships in response to U.S. protectionist policies. While the EU remains critical of China’s human rights record, particularly over the treatment of Uyghurs, Brussels is also seeking to maintain engagement and reduce reliance on unpredictable transatlantic ties.
Last week, China lifted sanctions imposed in 2021 on several MEPs in response to Western measures against Chinese officials accused of the mass detentions of Uyghurs. The move was widely seen as a conciliatory gesture ahead of the talks.
Officials in Beijing described EU-China ties as a source of “precious stability” for the global economy and voiced confidence that upcoming discussions would inject fresh momentum into the relationship.
European Council President Antonio Costa and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen © VYACHESLAV OSELEDKO / AFP