Overview

• China’s foreign ministry confirmed that President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Qiang will co-chair the 25th China-EU summit in Beijing on July 24-25 alongside European Council President Antonio Costa and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.
• The gathering commemorates 50 years of diplomatic relations between China and the European Community, later known as the EU.
• EU officials plan to press China for loosened export controls on rare earths, which are vital for electric-vehicle production and consumer electronics.
• Longstanding trade disputes over EU tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles and market access barriers for European firms will feature prominently on the agenda.
• Leaders will also address geopolitical strains, including China’s partnership with Russia during the war in Ukraine and Beijing’s criticism of recent EU sanctions on Moscow.