In a summit between Chinese President Xi Jinping and top EU officials, Xi cautioned against viewing China and Europe as rivals or entering into confrontation based on their differing political systems. The meeting, the first China-EU summit in four years, covered topics such as trade imbalances and the situation in Ukraine.Â
Xi expressed China's willingness to foster a strong economic and trade partnership with the European Union and collaborate on science and technology, including artificial intelligence. He also called for the elimination of interference in the bilateral relationship. The summit comes as a crucial opportunity for face-to-face discussions before the European Parliament elections trigger leadership changes in the EU.Â
Both sides downplayed expectations, with Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi urging Europe to prioritize "peace and stability" over a "new Cold War." Italy's recent decision to exit China's Belt and Road Initiative further complicates EU-China relations. The EU seeks Chinese influence on Russia to halt the war, with a focus on preventing Chinese companies from exporting European-made dual-use items to Russia.Â
Economic concerns, including an "imbalanced" trade deficit and issues related to subsidies and imports, remain central to the discussions. While there is potential for cooperation on climate change and biodiversity, challenges persist in the complex relationship between China and the EU.
