Chinese President Xi Jinping called on European leaders to make “correct strategic choices” as China and the EU mark 50 years of formal relations, though the party mood was notably absent.
Speaking after meeting with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President Antonio Costa in Beijing on Thursday, Xi said the world is in the midst of “rapidly evolving changes not seen in a century,” and that both sides must show leadership that “meets the expectations of the people and stands the test of history,” according to Chinese state broadcaster CCTV.
Translation: it’s time to decide which way this rocky relationship is going.
This year’s EU-China summit, the first in-person one since 2023, comes with no shortage of friction. But despite the tensions, both sides are signaling a cautious willingness to hit the reset button, at least where climate is concerned.
According to European diplomats speaking to Reuters, the EU and China are expected to ink a deal on carbon emissions and climate cooperation, a relatively safe zone amid their wider geopolitical jostling.
Chinese state media has framed the summit as a “normalization” moment, a chance for the world’s second-largest economy and the 27-member bloc to get back on more predictable footing, especially as global turbulence, from U.S. policy shifts under Donald Trump to Middle East instability, keeps shaking things up.
Von der Leyen also tried to strike a hopeful note.
“This Summit is the opportunity to both advance and rebalance our relationship,” she posted on X. “I’m convinced there can be a mutually beneficial cooperation, one that can define the next 50 years of our relations.”
With input from Al Jazeera
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