EU–China Deepen Climate Partnership at 25th Summit

At the 25th EU–China Summit, held in Beijing to mark the 50th anniversary of EU–China diplomatic ties and the 10th anniversary of the Paris Agreement, Chinese President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Qiang met European Council President António Costa, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, and EU High Representative Kaja Kallas.

Despite tensions over trade imbalances, Ukraine, and rare‑earth exports, the two sides achieved a breakthrough in climate cooperation .

In a joint press statement, leaders reaffirmed the centrality of the Paris Agreement and the UNFCCC as the basis for climate action, stressing that major economies must maintain policy stability amid global volatility. They described the China–EU green partnership as a key pillar of bilateral relations, signaling reinforcement in sectors like energy transition, carbon markets, low-carbon technologies, methane management, and climate adaptation.

Both parties committed to submitting their updated 2035 Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs)—covering all sectors and greenhouse gases—before COP30 in Brazil. They pledged to accelerate global renewable energy deployment, promote affordable clean technologies in developing countries, and enhance adaptation efforts from the local to global levels.

Beyond climate, the summit addressed trade imbalances—highlighting the EU’s €305 billion deficit with China in goods—and geopolitical issues including Russia’s war against Ukraine. Ursula von der Leyen warned of the need to rebalance relations, while Xi urged the EU to choose “correct strategic choices” and avoid protectionism.

Greenpeace East Asia lauded the agreement as a promising sign of multilateralism and stressed the need for both sides to deliver practical and ambitious action on climate goals.