Beijing, China (Enmaeya News) — European Union and Chinese leaders are meeting today in Beijing for the 25th EU-China Summit amid rising tensions on trade, Ukraine, and global issues, reflecting 50 years of diplomatic ties between the two powers.

Originally planned as a two-day event, the summit was shortened to one day at China’s request. European officials arrived with firm demands on trade, market access, and the Ukraine war, while China urged restraint and cooperation.

EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President Charles Michel pressed China over its large trade surplus with the bloc, worth about €306 billion. They called for tangible actions to address unfair subsidies, export controls on rare earths, and limits on European firms’ access to the Chinese market.

Chinese President Xi Jinping responded by warning against “decoupling” and urged Europe to keep markets open. He also dismissed the notion that China was responsible for Europe’s economic challenges.

The Ukraine war was a key issue. EU officials urged China to use its influence on Russia to push for peace. However, China did not offer new commitments and maintained a neutral stance, stating Europe’s problems were not caused by Beijing.

Despite these political strains, the two sides issued a joint statement on climate change. They reaffirmed their commitment to the Paris Agreement and pledged cooperation on green goals, including methane reduction, biodiversity, and combating plastic pollution.

The summit highlighted the difficult path ahead for EU-China relations amid growing global competition, including US-EU trade talks and China-US rivalry.

After the summit, von der Leyen is expected to hold a press conference to assess the outcomes. Further meetings with Chinese Premier Li Qiang will focus on economic and environmental issues.

The event ended as a cautious diplomatic reset rather than a breakthrough, underscoring ongoing friction between Europe and China on trade and geopolitical matters.