China Confirms EU Leaders to Visit Thursday for Summit

Khabor Wala Desk

Published: 21st July 2025, 2:22 PM

China has officially confirmed that the 25th China-EU Summit will take place this Thursday, 24 July, with senior European Union leaders visiting Beijing as both sides aim to ease ongoing trade tensions.

In a statement released on Monday, the Chinese Foreign Ministry announced:

“As agreed between China and the EU, President of the European Council Antonio Costa and President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen will visit China on 24 July.”

The Ministry further stated that President Xi Jinping will hold meetings with the visiting EU leaders, and Premier Li Qiang will co-chair the summit alongside them.

Summit Overview

Event	Details
Occasion	25th China–EU Summit
Date	Thursday, 24 July 2025
Venue	Beijing, China
Chinese Officials	President Xi Jinping, Premier Li Qiang
EU Representatives	Antonio Costa (European Council President), Ursula von der Leyen (European Commission President)
Anniversary Noted	50 years of diplomatic ties between the EU and China

The summit is set against a backdrop of economic friction, but also a long-standing diplomatic relationship that both parties seek to maintain and strengthen.

Aims of the Summit

Both sides appear eager to use the summit as a platform for constructive dialogue, particularly on trade issues, which have seen rising tensions in recent months.

“The summit is an opportunity to engage with China at the highest level and have frank, constructive discussions on issues that matter to both of us,”
— Antonio Costa, President of the European Council

“We want dialogue, real engagement and concrete progress. We aim for a fair, balanced relationship that delivers for both sides.”
— Costa

Trade Tensions: Key Issues

EU Concerns	Chinese Response
Market access restrictions for EU firms	China urges EU to “properly handle divergences and frictions”
Export controls on rare earths	China calls for a “more objective and rational understanding” of its policies
Unfair trade practices	China views EU criticisms as misinterpretation of its stance

Earlier this month, President von der Leyen signalled the EU’s intention to rebalance its economic relationship with China by advocating for:

Improved market access for European businesses
Relaxation of export restrictions on strategic raw materials
A more reciprocal and transparent trading environment

In response, the Chinese Foreign Ministry warned against escalating tensions and called for a more cooperative and pragmatic approach from Brussels.

A Diplomatic Milestone Amid Challenges

The 25th China-EU Summit not only represents a pivotal diplomatic milestone—marking half a century of bilateral relations—but also a critical juncture in reshaping the future economic relationship between the two global powers.

While strategic differences persist, both Beijing and Brussels appear committed to maintaining dialogue and exploring ways to stabilise and rebalance their ties. With top leadership involved on both sides, expectations are high for tangible outcomes from this week’s discussions.Top of FormBottom of Form