GT: At the summit, leaders of China and the EU issued a joint statement on climate change, showcasing the leading role of these two major economies in fulfilling international responsibilities. What other areas of cooperation would you promote between China and the EU?

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.

A joint statement promised new efforts to cut emissions at a time when China is positioning itself as the world’s one-stop shop for clean energy technologies.

President Donald Trump is set to meet with European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen in Scotland to discuss trade. Both sides are seeking an agreement on tariff rates.

China is a "critical partner" to Europe with a range of shared interests, state news agency Xinhua said in a commentary piece, downplaying Beijing's rivalry with the European Union bloc hours before a key summit between leaders of both sides on Thursday.

Beijing is betting that economic pressure and diplomatic defiance will force concessions, but its stance could put more strain on its ties with Europe at a crucial time.

China summit, the European Union announced on Thursday a tentative agreement with China to alleviate restrictions the country had placed on critical exports of rare earths. How soon might this agreement yield results?

That's the approximate size of the European Union's trade deficit with Beijing, which has doubled over the past decade and become a larger issue for the bloc's officials. "We need to see progress on this issue,

European leaders are meeting with top Chinese officials in Beijing to discuss trade, climate change and global conflicts.

Ursula von der Leyen and António Costa, the heads of the European Commission and the European Council respectively, will be in Beijing for a summit to mark the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and the European Union.