Overview

• European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen warned that the €360 billion trade deficit is unsustainable and urged China to take concrete steps to rebalance commerce.
• European Council President António Costa pressed China to use its influence over Russia to end its war in Ukraine, framing it as a determining factor in bilateral ties.
• Leaders agreed to a joint communique on climate leadership and committed to crafting proposals ahead of COP30 in Brazil.
• An upgraded export mechanism for Chinese rare earth minerals was established to fast-track licensing and stabilize supply chains for critical technologies.
• Despite commitments, fundamental disputes over market access, industrial overcapacity and geopolitical alignments persist.