By SHEN Shiwei
The China-EU Summit in Beijing seems to have drawn global attention.
The Summit Agrees on Rare Earth and Climate Change. However, it Differs on Trade and Russia-Ukraine Conflict
What they have agreed and differed will shape the relations between the two “big guys” in the international arena.
As Chinese and European Union (EU) leaders met in Beijing for the 25th China-EU Summit, both sides agreed on a new mechanism to help smooth the export of rare earth elements and magnets.
They also issued a joint statement on tackling climate change in the spirit of the Paris Agreement.
However, differences in areas such as bilateral trade and the Russia-Ukraine conflict will require further rounds of talks to address.
Why does a rare earth supply chain matter to China-EU ties?
The issue of rare earth supply chains has become a topic of growing discussion. During the high-level meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping on July 24, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen stated, “The EU does not seek decoupling and severing supply chains from China and welcomes Chinese enterprises to invest and do business in Europe.”
“We agreed to have an upgraded export supply mechanism. In other words, if there are bottlenecks, this upgraded supply chain support mechanism can immediately check and solve the problem or the issue that is out there,” Ursula von der Leyen told a press conference in Beijing after the summit.
China’s customs data shows the country’s exports of the magnets to the EU were nearly half of all its June shipments, the highest share in 2025, with more licenses granted in accordance with laws and regulations.
“Rare earth exports will not become an issue between China and the EU,” Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said during a European tour on July 3.
He added that it is both a sovereign right and an international responsibility for any country to impose necessary regulations on dual-use items – goods that can serve both civilian and military purposes.
Wang also noted that the Chinese government has established a “fast track” mechanism to facilitate exports to European companies.at can serve both civilian and military purposes.
“Europeans always talk about ‘de-risking’, but they will immediately follow it up with ‘no decoupling’ because decoupling is impossible.” said Feng Zhongping, director of the Institute of European Studies, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS).
Zhongping is also president of the Chinese Association for European Studies, in an interview with the China Briefing, adding that both sides share profound economic interests.
“The European economy cannot do without China. As China’s second-largest trading partner, Europe is one of China’s most important export markets.”
China-EU Ties 50th anniversary on: A ‘critical juncture in history’ vs. an ‘inflection point’
The European Chamber in China on Friday welcomed the outcomes of the China-EU Summit, saying in an official statement that the meeting “exceeded expectations.”
It highlighted several positive developments, including a joint statement affirming mutual commitment to tackling climate change and the creation of an upgraded export supply mechanism.
Jens Eskelund, president of the European Union Chamber of Commerce in China told the China Briefing that the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between the EU and China presents the opportunity to not only acknowledge the many successes but also give the relationship a service check.
On the same day, the Chinese Foreign Ministry announced that both sides had reached several important agreements during the summit, particularly in the areas of climate change and export controls.
As Chinese and EU leaders met in Beijing on July 24–25 to mark the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations, Chinese President Xi Jinping told EU leaders that China-EU ties had reached “another critical juncture in history,” while European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen described the relationship as being at an “inflection point.”
Croatian Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Gordan Grlic Radman, who paid a visit to China ahead of the summit, told the China Briefing that competition does exist, but cooperation is the only choice to ensure the future of the next generation.
“China and the EU may have differences on various issues, but we need dialogue to keep the channels of communication open, so that both can achieve a balanced, reciprocal and mutually beneficial relationship, reducing trade and investment barriers,” Radman added.
“Some frictions are inevitable, but resolving differences needs ‘political sincerity and strategic determination,’ Cai Run, head of the Chinese Mission to the European Union emphasized with the China Briefing that economic and trade cooperation continues to serve as a stabilizer and driver of China-EU relations.
Leaders at a summit in Beijing split over Russia-Ukraine conflict
European leaders predominantly view their relationship with China through the lens of the Russia-Ukraine conflict. Professor Zhu Feng, dean of the School of International Relations at Nanjing University, told the China Briefing that the EU hopes China will significantly reduce its energy, economic, and trade ties with Russia – and is also seeking to pressure Beijing into making substantial concessions.
However, China’s position on maintaining normal energy cooperation with Russia should not be overlooked.
Chinese Foreign Ministry and Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) on July 21 slammed the EU’s unilateral sanctions involving Chinese banks and companies over Russia, and vowed to safeguard legitimate rights with necessary actions.
On February, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi reiterated that China-Russia relations are characterized as “non-alliance, non-confrontation and not targeting any third party” and the Munich Security Conference.
When responding to Europe’s push on China to stop buying gas from Russia, Wang questioned, “If China does not import oil and gas from Russia, how could it meet its demands and ensure the need of more than 1.4 billion Chinese people?”
Cui Hongjian, a professor at the Academy of Regional and Global Governance at Beijing Foreign Studies University, said some European politicians seek to exaggerate the narrative of competition with China and attempt to solidify it.
In contrast, China has emphasized that competitive factors should be viewed appropriately – aiming to transform competition into cooperation and prevent it from undermining the foundation of China-EU relations.
“The EU appears to be increasingly viewing its China policy through the lens of its U.S. strategy, sacrificing parts of China-EU cooperation to align with U.S. positions,” Cui added.
Feng Zhongping told the China Briefing that a forward-moving China-EU relations could not ignore the problems and challenges.
However, some European media and analysts often only focus on problems and challenges. “The problems and challenges exactly show that these are the common interests of China and the EU most concentrated,” Feng added.
Climate change and related technology cooperation was a safe space for negotiation
“The EU-China cooperation on climate can set a global benchmark, and we will work together to make COP30 a success,” European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said on her official X account, after the summit was concluded.
United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres on Friday welcomed the commitment of China and the EU to deepen cooperation on climate change and support a global just transition.
On the same day, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun praised the China-EU joint statement on climate change, highlighting it as a reflection of their shared commitment to tackling climate issues and advancing green development, among other priorities, during a regular press conference.
“Although the EU sees significant competition between China and the EU, on climate change, China is viewed as an indispensable partner,” said Feng Zhongping in an interview with the China Briefing. He added that cooperation in the climate field between the two sides has been progressing well.
In the joint statement, China and the EU pledged to accelerate the global deployment of renewable energy and promote the flow of high-quality green technologies and products – making them accessible, affordable, and applicable to all countries, including developing nations.
They also agreed to strengthen bilateral cooperation in areas such as energy transition, climate adaptation, methane emissions control, carbon markets, and green and low-carbon technologies.
Both sides committed to advancing their respective green and low-carbon transformation processes and pledged to submit their 2035 Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) ahead of the 30th UN Climate Change Conference (COP30).
The joint statement notably made no mention of the United States, which is set to withdraw from the Paris Agreement again in January 2026, following President Trump’s re-election and his administration’s submission of a formal withdrawal application.