China News
TRADE WARS
China's top diplomat to visit EU, Germany, France next week
China's top diplomat to visit EU, Germany, France next week
By Mary YANG
Beijing (AFP) June 27, 2025

China's top diplomat Wang Yi will head to Europe next week for talks with counterparts from the European Union, Germany and France, Beijing said on Friday as it seeks to shore up fraught ties with the bloc.

Beijing has sought to improve relations with Europe as a counterweight to superpower rival United States, though frictions remain over trade and China's close ties with Russia despite its war in Ukraine.

China and the European Union will also host a summit next month marking 50 years since Beijing and Brussels established diplomatic ties.

Wang's trip will take him to Brussels, France and Germany and last from next Monday to Sunday, Beijing said.

"The world is undergoing an accelerated evolution of a century-old change, with unilateralism, protectionism and bullying behaviour becoming rampant," foreign ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun said -- a thinly-veiled swipe against the United States under President Donald Trump.

China's top diplomat will meet with EU counterpart Kaja Kallas at the bloc's headquarters in Brussels for "high-level strategic dialogue", he said.

In Germany he will hold talks with Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul on diplomacy and security -- his first visit since Berlin's new conservative-led government took power in May.

China looks forward to "strengthening strategic communication, enhancing pragmatic cooperation, and promoting new developments of the China-Germany comprehensive strategic partnership," Guo said.

Ties between Berlin and Beijing, he added, were "injecting certainty, stability, and positive energy into a turbulent world".

In France, Wang will meet minister for Europe and foreign affairs Jean-Noel Barrot, who visited China in March.

"Foreign Minister Wang Yi will exchange views with the French side on the international situation, China-France ties and China-Europe relations," Guo said.

And in Brussels Wang will also hold talks with Belgium's Prime Minister Bart De Wever and Deputy PM and Foreign Minister Maxime Prevot, Beijing said.

- Trade spat -

Ties between Europe and China have strained in recent years as the bloc seeks to get tougher on what it says are unfair economic practices by Beijing and the yawning trade imbalance between them.

Last week, the European Union banned Chinese firms from government medical device purchases worth more than five million euros ($5.8 million) in retaliation for limits Beijing places on access to its own market.

The latest salvo in trade tensions between the 27-nation bloc and China covered a wide range of healthcare supplies, from surgical masks to X-ray machines, that represent a market worth 150 billion euros ($176 billion) in the EU.

In response, China accused the EU of "double standards".

Another tricky point has been rare earths.

Beijing has since April required licences to export these strategic materials from China, which accounts for more than 60 percent of rare earth mining production and 92 percent of global refined output, according to the International Energy Agency.

The metals are used in a wide variety of products, including electric car batteries, and there has been criticism from industries about the way China's licences have been issued.

China has proposed establishing a "green channel" to ease the export of rare earths to the European Union, its commerce ministry said this month.

bur-oho/pfc/mtp

X

Related Links
Global Trade News

Subscribe Free To Our Daily Newsletters
Tweet

RELATED CONTENT
The following news reports may link to other Space Media Network websites.
TRADE WARS
After NATO deal, how far will EU go for trade peace with Trump?
Brussels, Belgium (AFP) June 26, 2025
After satisfying Donald Trump's calls for Europe to ramp up defence spending in NATO, EU leaders in Brussels turned Thursday to the next big challenge ahead: how to seal a trade deal with the US leader. Time is running out. The European Union has until July 9 to reach a deal or see swingeing tariffs kick in on a majority of goods, unleashing economic pain. The European Commission, in charge of EU trade policy, has been in talks with Washington for weeks, and the leaders of Europe's two biggest e ... read more

TRADE WARS
Chinese Long March Rockets Make International Debut at Paris Air Show

China launches international association to boost global access to deep space research

China Shenzhou XX crew advances cognitive and biotech research aboard Tiangong

Chinese rocket delivers e-commerce packages in sea recovery test

TRADE WARS
China's top diplomat to visit EU, Germany, France next week

China's top diplomat visits Europe pitching closer ties in 'volatile' world

World facing 'most complex' situation in decades: WEF

WTO to examine two trade disputes between Canada and China

TRADE WARS
TRADE WARS
Trump says 'getting along well' with China, downplays hostile acts

Life lessons of the Dalai Lama

'Simple monk': the Dalai Lama, in his translator's words; How the Dalai Lama is identified

Dalai Lama suggests institution to continue at 90th birthday launch

TRADE WARS
Court rejects EDF complaint over Czech nuclear tender

GE Vernova and Fortum take steps toward Nordic deployment of BWRX-300 SMRs

GE Vernova to open Ontario engineering center for BWRX-300 small modular reactors

EU unveils new state aid rules in boon for nuclear, renewables

TRADE WARS
2 Chinese nationals charged with spying in the United States

UK govt says Chinese spying on the rise

Iran appoints new Revolutionary Guards intelligence chief

WhatsApp 'concerned' services to be blocked after Iran calls to delete app

TRADE WARS
Court rejects EDF complaint over Czech nuclear tender

GE Vernova and Fortum take steps toward Nordic deployment of BWRX-300 SMRs

GE Vernova to open Ontario engineering center for BWRX-300 small modular reactors

EU unveils new state aid rules in boon for nuclear, renewables

TRADE WARS
UK ditches mega green energy supply project from Morocco

Trump admin ends halt on New York offshore wind project

Trump shift boosts offshore wind project: New York governor

Norway's Equinor slams 'unlawful' halt to US wind farm

Subscribe Free To Our Daily Newsletters




The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2024 - Space Media Network. All websites are published in Australia and are solely subject to Australian law and governed by Fair Use principals for news reporting and research purposes. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA news reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. All articles labeled "by Staff Writers" include reports supplied to Space Media Network by industry news wires, PR agencies, corporate press officers and the like. Such articles are individually curated and edited by Space Media Network staff on the basis of the report's information value to our industry and professional readership. Advertising does not imply endorsement, agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) Statement Our advertisers use various cookies and the like to deliver the best ad banner available at one time. All network advertising suppliers have GDPR policies (Legitimate Interest) that conform with EU regulations for data collection. By using our websites you consent to cookie based advertising. If you do not agree with this then you must stop using the websites from May 25, 2018. Privacy Statement. Additional information can be found here at About Us.