Summit seen as opportunity to strengthen ties

As the 25th China-European Union Summit approaches, analysts pointed out that despite differences, China and Europe share deep economic and geopolitical alignment.

European Council President Antonio Costa and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen will travel to China on Thursday for a key visit, the Chinese Foreign Ministry confirmed on Monday. The trip, arranged by mutual agreement, will include a meeting with President Xi Jinping. The two EU leaders will also co-chair the 25th China-EU Summit alongside Premier Li Qiang.

Experts said the talks come at a time of global realignment, offering both sides a chance to solidify cooperation amid rising geopolitical tensions.

Wu Jian, a professor at the NEOMA Business School in France, said, "The US, under the Donald Trump administration, is adopting a hegemonic stance, going so far as to impose measures that run counter to European interests. The European Union, if it wants to avoid being sidelined in an increasingly polarized world, must assert a clear and balanced position, one that defends its interests while actively contributing to global governance.

"This EU-China summit embodies that ambition: to establish a strategic dialogue with China, to promote renewed multilateralism, and to work toward a fairer and more stable international order," she said.

Vuk Vuksanovic, a political analyst at the London School of Economics' foreign policy think tank LSE IDEAS, said that the EU will still try to hedge its bets with China, given Europe's on-and-off relationship with the US under the Trump administration.

He said that the summit will primarily focus on trade relations between the two sides.

Experts highlighted the converging priorities of China and the EU, with joint interests spanning critical sectors — from maintaining global security to driving green transition and next-generation technological development.

Wu said that both Europe and China must work together toward a just peace in Ukraine and an end to the conflict in the Middle East, and in the fight against nuclear proliferation.

Cui Hongjian, director of Beijing Foreign Studies University's Center for European Union and Regional Development Studies, said that given the evolving international landscape, both China and Europe face the same challenge — how to protect economic security in an increasingly complex world.

"At the very least, when it comes to handling conflicts, their agreements far outweigh their disagreements. Neither side wants disputes to turn into confrontation or worse. Whether it's the Ukraine issue or other potential conflicts, China and Europe have every reason to work together on reasonable solutions," Cui said.

"On green and digital transitions, the two sides also share aligned policy objectives, as both view these transformations as the future of industry. And crucially, both still back free trade and open markets. These common priorities should drive deeper cooperation in new areas.

"The real task now is turning shared principles into action — moving beyond talk to real trade, investment and joint projects. That'll take creative, practical steps, not just promises," Cui said.

The common interests shared by the two sides have been built upon a strong foundation of economic ties. Over the past 50 years, China and Europe have become each other's second-largest trading partner, with annual bilateral trade surging from $2.4 billion to $785.8 billion, a more than 300-fold increase. In 2024, cross-border investment flows demonstrated a relatively balanced economic relationship, with the EU channeling $6.79 billion into China and China investing $7.09 billion in the EU.

Cui from Beijing Foreign Studies University said: "The world today is caught between two competing forces — one destructive, the other constructive. ... I believe these constructive forces should help deepen their cooperation and unity, because only through this can we curb destructive influences.

"Held on the 50th anniversary of the establishment of China-EU diplomatic relations, the summit serves as a bridge between the past and future. It offers both sides an opportunity to build on lessons learned, expand common ground, and move forward more effectively together," he added.