European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has highlighted a critical juncture in the trade relationship between China and the European Union. Addressing the EU-China Summit in Beijing on Thursday, she acknowledged the significant trade volume between the two entities, stating that the EU is China’s largest trading partner based on volume, while China stands as the EU’s third-largest.
“Our bilateral trade in goods now exceeds two billion euros per day” von der Leyen confirmed.
The Commission President emphasized the EU’s long-standing support for China’s economic development, a commitment she affirmed remains in place. However, she noted that deepening collaboration has resulted in widening imbalances.
“We have reached a turning point” von der Leyen declared, indicating a necessary recalibration of the bilateral relationship. She stressed the importance of a mutually beneficial framework for sustainable trade, advocating for both China and Europe to acknowledge each other’s concerns and present concrete solutions to resolve emerging challenges.
