Half a century after the establishment of relations between China and the EU, and against a backdrop of deteriorating transatlantic relations, the European Union and China held their 25th summit in Beijing.

The summit, being hosted in China on Thursday, marks 50 years of diplomatic ties between Brussels and Beijing.

At a shortened summit in Beijing, Xi Jinping urged the EU to manage trade frictions and warned against ‘building walls’, as leaders clashed over tariffs, Ukraine, and industrial overcapacity, but pled

Chinese leader Xi Jinping urged the European Union to make “the right strategic choice” and enhance cooperation with China, while EU leaders called for a rebalancing of trade ties, as the two sides tackle deep-seated grievances at a tense summit in Beijing.

The recent summit between the EU and China marked an inflection point in their trade relations amidst global tensions. Discussions covered trade and geopolitical issues, with an emphasis on overcoming challenges in the relationship.

EU leaders on Thursday threatened China with new action to counter what they consider unfair trade practices, as they met Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing for a high-level summit aimed at recalibrating strained ties.