Brussels, 5 December 2023
On Thursday 7 December 2023, the leaders of the EU and China will hold a summit in Beijing, China. The EU will be represented by the President of the European Council, Charles Michel and the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, accompanied by High Representative Josep Borrell. China will be represented by President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Qiang.
The summit will cover the following topics:
- EU-China relations, including economic and trade
- Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine
- the situation in the Middle East
- climate change
- global health and pandemic preparedness
EU-China relations
The summit is an opportunity to take stock of EU-China relations and of cooperation in fields where the EU and China share interests, notably on global and regional challenges. The EU and China should have a constructive dialogue aimed at achieving balanced economic relations. EU leaders will also raise issues of concern, particularly the human rights situation, tensions in the Taiwan Strait, instability in the East and South China Seas.
European Council conclusions on China, 30 June 2023
Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine
The EU will call on the Chinese leadership to press Russia to stop its war of aggression and withdraw its troops from Ukraine.. EU leaders will call on China to defend the rules-based international order.
The EU will call on China to prevent attempts by Russia to circumvent or counter the effects sanctions.
Infographic – EU solidarity with Ukraine
EU response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine
European Council conclusions on Ukraine, 29 June 2023
Middle East
Leaders will discuss the unfolding situation and humanitarian crisis in the Middle East, as well as diplomatic engagement to encourage peace in the region.
European Council conclusions on Middle East, 26 October 2023
Climate and environment
Amidst the ongoing COP28 summit in Dubai, the EU will encourage China to take more ambitious action on climate change, including phasing out fossil fuels and committing to reducing methane levels, in order to fulfil the terms of the Paris Agreement and achieve global net-zero emissions by 2050.
Climate change: What the EU is doing (background information) COP28: Council sets out EU position for UN climate summit in Dubai
Global health and pandemic preparedness
The COVID-19 pandemic has demonstrated that health policy must transcend national boundaries lines in order for countries to better prepare for and prevent health crises. In Beijing, the EU will call on China to strengthen cooperation on pandemic prevention, including at the World Health Assembly (WHA).
An international agreement on pandemic prevention and preparedness Negotiations on the World Health Organisation Pandemic Agreement
Background
The previous EU-China summit took place via videoconference on 1 April 2022. At the European Council summit in June 2023, EU leaders held a strategic discussion on the EU’s relations with China.
EU-China summit via videoconference, 1 April 2022 European Council conclusions on China, 30 June 2023
Agenda highlights
The 24th EU-China summit will take place in Beijing, China. This will be the first in-person EU-China summit since 2019.
President of the European Council, Charles Michel, and President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, accompanied by High Representative Josep Borrell, representing the EU, will meet Chinese President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Qiang in two separate sessions.
The summit will be an opportunity to engage with China at the highest level and to pursue constructive and stable EU-China relations.
The focus of the summit will be the state of EU-China relations and international issues, including Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine and the situation in the Middle East.
The leaders will discuss ways of ensuring a more balanced and reciprocal trade relationship, as well as areas of shared interest such as climate change, food security, global health and pandemic preparedness.
The EU will advocate the need to support the multilateral rules-based international order and recall the EU’s approach to de-risking and economic security.
Background
EU-China relationship
At the June European Council, EU leaders held a strategic discussion on the EU’s relations with China.
In their conclusions, they reaffirmed the EU’s multifaceted approach towards China, and the continued engagement with China:
- to tackle global challenges such as climate change, pandemic preparedness and Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine
- to ensure a level playing field for a balanced economic and trade relationship
Previous summit
The previous EU-China summit took place on 1 April 2022 via video conference.