Brussels: Europe and the Arabs

The European Union and China held their 25th summit in Beijing on July 24, 2025. European Council President António Costa and Commission President Ursula von der Leyen met with Chinese President Xi Jinping and then with Premier Li Keqiang. High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaya Kallas also participated in the meetings.
The summit marked the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the European Union and the People's Republic of China. It was an opportunity for leaders to discuss all aspects of bilateral relations, as well as global and geopolitical issues. In a statement issued in Brussels, the European Union emphasized the importance it attaches to this relationship and reiterated its commitment to deepening cooperation with China and enhancing cooperation to address common global challenges, such as climate change. It emphasized that deepening cooperation must lead to tangible progress on issues of common concern and to more productive work towards a balanced and mutually beneficial economic relationship based on fairness and reciprocity. The leaders agreed that the EU and China share a shared responsibility to preserve the rules-based international order and address global challenges. They reaffirmed their commitment to working together to protect multilateralism.
The leaders discussed Russia's aggression against Ukraine. The EU emphasized that this aggression poses not only an existential threat to Ukraine but also to global security. The EU reiterated that China, as a permanent member of the UN Security Council, has a special responsibility to uphold the rules-based international order, the UN Charter, and international law. Russia's invasion of Ukraine is a clear example of its violation. The EU reiterated its calls on China not to provide any material support that would strengthen Russia's military-industrial base. The EU encouraged China to use its influence to support a just and lasting peace in Ukraine, based on the principles of the UN Charter. The EU emphasized that the DPRK's supply of troops and weapons to support Russia's war in Ukraine poses significant risks to security in Europe and East Asia.
The leaders discussed the Middle East. Regarding Gaza, the EU reiterated its key priorities: unhindered humanitarian access, a return to the ceasefire, and the unconditional release of all hostages. Regarding humanitarian access, the EU emphasized the need for Israel to fully respect its obligations in this regard. The EU and China reaffirmed their commitment to the two-state solution as the only viable and long-term solution that will bring peace to the region.
Regarding Iran, the leaders agreed on the importance of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) as the cornerstone of the global nuclear non-proliferation regime. The EU asked China to exert its influence to prevent any escalation of the conflict and to return to the negotiating table. [Regarding Syria, the leaders condemned the recent violence. They called for the full implementation of the reform process, based on recovery and reconciliation, to achieve the aspirations of all Syrians.]
The EU and China are major trading partners. In 2024, bilateral trade reached €730 billion. However, current trade relations remain seriously unbalanced, with a trade deficit in goods of €305 billion. The EU expressed its concerns about persistent systemic distortions and growing overcapacity in the manufacturing sector, both of which exacerbate inequality. Similarly, the EU reiterated its call for progress on long-standing market access issues, noting that Chinese investments in Europe contribute to the EU's long-term competitiveness, technological advancement, and job creation.
The EU remains ready to continue constructive dialogue to find negotiated solutions. Failing this, the EU will take proportionate and legally compliant measures to protect its legitimate interests.
The EU expressed its expectation that China will take concrete action regarding EU companies' access to the Chinese market in priority areas such as meat, cosmetics, and pharmaceuticals. The EU insisted that China end its unjustified and retaliatory trade defense claims and measures against EU exports of brandy, pork, and dairy products. The EU highlighted the negative impact of China's export controls on rare earths and permanent magnets and urged it to lift these restrictions. The leaders welcomed the positive and fruitful bilateral cooperation on climate change, based on close cooperation at both the bilateral and international levels. They agreed on the need for the European Union and China to lead global efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, including at COP30. [To underline this commitment, the two sides agreed on a joint press statement on climate change.]
The European Union's share of global emissions has fallen to 6%, and the EU affirmed its commitment to further reduce it, to 4% by 2030. The EU encouraged China to propose an ambitious plan to reduce its emissions by 2035 and to increase its international financial contributions, commensurate with its size and global responsibility. The EU called on China to join the global pledge to reduce methane emissions and contribute to the Kunming-Montreal Biodiversity Framework. The two sides agreed to cooperate to reach an ambitious and balanced international treaty on plastic pollution.

Since the last Summit in December 2023, the EU and China have kept up intensive engagement both at technical and political levels in a wide range of areas. This has resulted, among other things, in upgrading cooperation on emissions trading systems in relation to greenhouse gases, the implementation of a joint roadmap on the circular economy, a new Action plan on regional policy cooperation for the period 2024-29, a new dialogue on financial regulation and relaunching the work of a group on drug precursors. The EU and China are also working to extend the protection of geographical indications from 200 to 550 products.

The EU stressed the need to foster reciprocity in the digital sphere, underlining that European companies faced limited access to China. The EU further reiterated continued concern about the lack of clarity regarding Chinese data security rules and cross-border data flows from China, as well as malicious cyber activities detected as originating from China.

The EU reiterated its deep concerns about the human rights situation in Xinjiang and Tibet, forced labour, the treatment of human rights defenders and persons belonging to minorities, as well as the continued erosion of fundamental freedoms in Hong Kong, where China should honour its prior commitments. The EU welcomed the holding of the 40th session of the EU-China Human Rights Dialogue on 13 June 2025 in Brussels, which allowed for an in-depth exchange on human rights issues, including on a number of individual cases of concern.

The EU reaffirmed its consistent One China policy and expressed concerns about increased tensions in the Taiwan Strait. Heightened instability in the East and South China Seas threatens regional and global prosperity and security. The EU opposes any unilateral attempts to change the status quo by force or coercion and insists on resolving disputes through peaceful means in accordance with international law, in particular the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).