Xi Urges EU to ‘Properly Handle Frictions’ at High-Stakes Beijing Summit

Report by “Safarti Tarjuman” International News Desk

Beijing, China — Chinese President Xi Jinping called on European Union leaders to “properly manage differences and friction” during a high-stakes summit in Beijing on Thursday, as both sides navigate strained relations over trade, industrial policy, and geopolitical conflicts.

Meeting with **European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen** and **European Council President Antonio Costa**, Xi warned the bloc to make “correct strategic choices,” cautioning against protectionism and economic decoupling.

> “The challenges facing Europe do not come from China,” Xi said, according to **Xinhua**, China’s state news agency. “Building walls and fortresses will only lead to isolation.”

He urged the EU to keep trade channels open and avoid restrictive economic tools that could further strain relations.

The summit marks the 50th anniversary of diplomatic ties between China and the EU, but growing rifts over trade imbalances and China’s alleged support for Russia in the Ukraine conflict have cast a shadow over the milestone event

Von der Leyen acknowledged the friction, stating that the EU-China relationship is at an “inflection point” and urged Beijing to address the growing €305.8 billion ($360 billion) trade deficit.

“As our cooperation has expanded, so have the imbalances,” she said during the summit. “China must present real solutions.”

The European Union has increasingly taken a firm stance against what it calls unfair Chinese industrial practices, including subsidies for electric vehicles (EVs) and dumping of cheap exports into European markets.

Trade remained a dominant theme, especially the EU’s recent probes into Chinese EV exports and Beijing’s controls on rare earth minerals—critical components for high-tech manufacturing. Supply chain disruptions earlier this year prompted urgent talks, though recent data shows a 245% surge in rare earth exports from China to the EU in June, softening the tension.

Ukraine also featured prominently, with the EU accusing Beijing of supporting Russia’s wartime economy, further straining diplomatic efforts. The accusation came after von der Leyen’s earlier warning that China was enabling Russia’s military-industrial complex.

Despite major disagreements, both sides expressed optimism about expanding climate cooperation, one of the few remaining areas of constructive engagement. A joint statement on environmental collaboration is expected to be finalized after further talks with Chinese Premier Li Qiang.

Analysts note that EU-China ties are also being affected by Europe’s closer alignment with the United States under President Donald Trump’s second term. Some observers suggest that Brussels is recalibrating its strategy to manage dual pressure from Washington and Beijing.

“The EU increasingly leans toward U.S. policy on China, limiting space for deepening ties with Beijing,” said Cui Hongjian, a foreign affairs expert in Beijing.

In an effort to strike a balanced tone, von der Leyen later posted on X (formerly Twitter), calling the summit an opportunity to “advance and rebalance” the EU-China partnership.

Summary of Key Developments:

• Xi Jinping calls on EU to handle trade disputes and geopolitical tensions “properly”

• Von der Leyen labels China-EU ties at a “turning point,” seeks correction in trade deficit

• Rare earth exports, Ukraine conflict, and EV subsidies dominate summit discussions

• Climate change agreement offers common ground

• EU accused of drifting toward U.S. strategic alignment, reducing bilateral momentum

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