China - EU kick off top summit

Towards a successful China-EU Summit focused on global cooperation

Newsletter July 2018

16+1 format to spur economic growth and advance EU integration, says Li

Premier Li Keqiang visited Bulgaria on 7 July and held talks under the framework of the 7th "16+1" Summit, with business, inclusive trade and China-EU relations topping the agenda. “Cooperation between China and the CEECs is based on openness, consultation on an equal footing,” said Li, highlighting that by spurring economic growth the forum also helps narrow the gap within the EU and advance integration.

Speaking on trade the Chinese Premier said China was committed to safeguarding a free and multilateral trade regime: “no one will win by fighting a war,” he said. Six years of cooperation in the 16+1 format has brought the trade volume between China and the CEECs to almost 70 billion U.S. dollars from 40 billion dollars, with an average annual growth of 6.5 percent.

20th China-EU summit: ready, set, go

The 20th China-EU summit kicks off today in Beijing, with a high-level delegation from Brussels – including Council President Donald Tusk and European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker. On the agenda: an exchange views on issues of common concern and on the major international agenda, including trade, investment, global stability and development.

This year marks the 15th anniversary of the establishment of the comprehensive strategic partnership between China and European Union and the 20th anniversary of the establishment of China-EU leaders' meeting mechanism.

China and EU prepare for 'pragmatic and productive' trade talks

Vice Premier Liu and European Commission VP for Growth Jyrki Katainen prepared the ground for a successful China-EU summit, discussing trade, investments and finance at the 7th China-EU High-Level Economic Dialogue on 26 June.

Both sides agreed to firmly oppose unilateralism and protectionism and prevent such practices from impacting the world economy.

The discussions also saw joint commitment to accelerate China's accession to the Government Procurement Agreement, continue connecting the Belt and Road Initiative to Europe's development strategies, and to strengthen financial cooperation between both sides.

Top tweets of the month:

China’s new guidelines on expanding imports

From daily consumer goods and medicine to equipment for rehabilitation and elderly care, China is revising its import guidelines for certain products by cutting import tariffs and cleaning up unreasonable price mark-ups. The aim is to optimise the structure of imports to support upgrading production and consumption - read more.

China - Germany sign memorandum on autonomous driving

At the 5th Chinese-German Government Consultations, Premier Li and German Chancellor Angela Merkel signed a milestone agreement to increase cooperation in the field of autonomous driving - along with more than 20 cooperative documents in agriculture, education, youth, sanitation, chemicals, telecommunications and automotive.

Ambassador Zhang talks trade, tariffs and investment with Handlesblatt

Is the trade war now inevitable? How will China respond? What does China think of the EU’s investment screening scheme, and can China offer anything more to the EU in terms of opening up markets? These are a few of the questions which Chinese Ambassador to the EU Zhang Ming answered in a recent interview with Germany’s leading business newspaper Handlesblatt.

China's trade up 7.1% in 1st half of 2018, surplus down

China & Germany to play in Belt and Road basketball tournament

China's GDP grows 6.8% in the 1st half of year

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