Chinese Premier Li Keqiang and European Union President Ursula von der Leyen stressed the importance of cooperation during their meeting in New York, as the world's second and third largest economies seek to defuse trade tensions amid pressure from tariffs imposed by US President Donald Trump.
Von der Leyen said in a statement on her X account after the meeting on Wednesday that she discussed trade issues with the Chinese premier on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly, expressing her appreciation for "China's willingness to engage with us in a spirit of mutual understanding."
She added, "Europe has made its concerns about export controls, market access constraints, and excess production capacity very clear."
China and the EU have spent the past two years on the brink of a trade war, the roots of which, according to analysts, go back to the European Commission's decision in 2023 to open an investigation into subsidies for Chinese-made electric vehicles, which led to investigations into European brandy, dairy products, pork, and other goods. But with Trump's trade policy putting pressure on Chinese and European exports, Beijing and Brussels have good reason to seek rapprochement.
According to a statement issued by the Chinese Foreign Ministry on Thursday, Li Keqiang said he hoped China and the European Union could "uphold the original aspirations behind the establishment of diplomatic relations," adding that he "also expressed the hope that the EU would commit to maintaining open trade and investment markets."
The statement added, "As two major powers on the international stage, China and the European Union must demonstrate a degree of responsibility and maintain their strategic independence."
Diplomats say China has become more central to European strategic calculations regarding the war in Ukraine, with many viewing Chinese President Xi Jinping's influence over his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin and Beijing's role as an economic lifeline for Russia as a more realistic path to peace than Trump's unpredictable foreign policy.
Ursula von der Leyen said she asked "China to use its influence to stop the bloodshed and encourage Russia to return to the negotiating table."
The Chinese Foreign Ministry statement did not address the conflict on Europe's borders. Von der Leyen concluded her comments by saying, "The time for diplomacy has come. Such a move would send a strong signal to the world."
China and Europe stress the importance of cooperation to confront Trump's tariffs
