The European Union scheduled its annual summit with China for July 2025, Commission President Ursula von der Leyen confirmed following a call with Chinese Premier Li Qiang, according to Politico.
The announcement, discreetly buried in a readout of the Brussels-Beijing discussion, aligns with the 50th anniversary of EU-China diplomatic relations, a symbolic milestone framed by von der Leyen as a “fitting opportunity” to recalibrate ties.
While the Commission’s chief spokesperson declined to confirm the exact date, she acknowledged July as the tentative timeline, with European Council President António Costa expected to co-host.
The timing of the summit reflects a strategic calculation. Originally speculated for May, the delay allows Brussels to navigate escalating US-China trade hostilities, as President Donald Trump’s sweeping tariffs–including a 38% levy on EU goods–reshape global alliances.
Von der Leyen emphasised the “responsibility” of Europe and China, as two of the world’s largest markets, to uphold a “free, fair, and level” trading system.
The summit’s agenda will grapple with thorny issues, including China’s industrial subsidies, forced technology transfers, and market access barriers, longstanding EU grievances that have stalled progress on a Comprehensive Agreement on Investment. Leaked EU documents reveal Brussels’ readiness to withhold a joint statement unless Beijing commits to WTO reforms and dismantles trade distortions.
