European Union and Chinese leaders have convened in Beijing for a pivotal summit marking 50 years of diplomatic relations, but the mood is tense due to escalating trade disputes and disagreements over China's support for Russia in the Ukraine war.
EU officials, led by Ursula von der Leyen, pressed China to address the massive trade imbalance and called for a 'rebalancing' of economic ties, while President Xi Jinping urged for 'proper handling of frictions' and deeper trust. Both sides acknowledged the importance of their economic partnership, which accounts for nearly a third of global trade and GDP, but expectations for major breakthroughs remain low. Climate change cooperation was highlighted as a potential area for joint leadership, especially as the US retreats from global climate commitments.
The summit underscores the complex, often fraught relationship between two of the world's largest economies as they navigate a turbulent geopolitical landscape.
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