European Council President Charles Michel, China’s leader Xi Jinping, and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen met in Beijing|@CharlesMichel|X

During a tense Beijing Summit on Thursday, European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen and Council president Charles Michel urged Chinese leader Xi Jinping to address the country’s trade imbalances and its support for Russia.

The summit was their first in-person meeting in four years.

The European leaders highlighted concerns about the EU’s $400 billion trade deficit with China and emphasized the necessity for fairer trade practices. They attributed the gap to preferential treatment for Chinese firms.

Widening EU-China gap
The summit focused on market access issues and investigations into subsidies, with the EU aiming to reduce its reliance on Chinese resources, reflecting deepening trade concerns.

Italy’s withdrawal from China’s Belt and Road initiative highlighted the widening gap between the EU-China relations.

But
The summit successfully secured an agreement for EU firms to follow strict data transfer rules in China. However, China’s unwavering support for Russia, evident in oil purchases and military supplies, remains unchanged, complicating ties between Europe and China.