This edition brings you updates on China-EU relations, China's high-level diplomacy and contribution to the global governance, and our latest stance on trade and hotspot issues. Enjoy reading!

China-Czech High-Level Dialogue

On July 23, 2026, Zhao Leji, chairman of China's National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee, held talks with Tomio Okamura, speaker of the Chamber of Deputies of the Czech Republic, in Beijing.

Noting that this year marks the 10th anniversary of the China-Czech strategic partnership, Zhao said China stands ready to work with the Czech side to carry forward traditional friendship, enhance mutual understanding and trust, strengthen exchanges and cooperation, and promote the sound and steady growth of bilateral relations.

Zhao called on both sides to consolidate the political foundation of their ties, sustain the momentum of improvement in bilateral relations, and resume and step up exchanges and interactions at all levels and across all fields.

Okamura said the Czech Republic adheres to the one-China policy, adding that it hopes to strengthen tourism cooperation with China and welcome more Chinese tourists to visit the Czech Republic, expand cooperation in areas such as economy and trade, cultural relic exhibitions, and direct flights, and enhance people-to-people exchanges.

EP Foreign Affairs Committee Delegation On Visit To China

On July 21, 2026, Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Foreign Minister Wang Yi met in Beijing with a cross-party delegation of members of the European Parliament led by Chair of the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the European Parliament David McAllister.

Wang Yi welcomed the first delegation visit to China by the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the European Parliament and noted that the greatest changes in the world over the past half-century and more have taken place in China. The Communist Party of China has led the Chinese people in continuous efforts and found a successful development path that suits China’s national conditions, enjoys the people’s support, and keeps pace with the times. This has created two miracles of long-term social stability and rapid economic development, and China is now accelerating green, low-carbon and sustainable development and advancing Chinese modernization on all fronts. China’s useful experience and successful practices have been recognized and supported by more and more countries. China’s development represents the growth of forces for peace, the strengthening of factors for stability, and the guarantee of prosperity and development. It provides the greatest certainty for world peace and development and delivers tangible benefits to people of all countries. The European Parliament has an important influence on the EU’s foreign policy. It is hoped that the delegation will strengthen exchanges with people from various sectors in China, gain an understanding of a real, multi-dimensional, and continuously developing and progressing China, encourage the European side to form a rational and objective perception of China and adopt a positive and correct policy towards China, and help China-Europe relations achieve steady and sustained growth.

Wang Yi stressed that both history and reality prove that China and Europe are partners, not rivals. The interests of the two sides are deeply interwoven, and they share the same or similar positions on many major issues such as upholding multilateralism, supporting the United Nations, and safeguarding free trade. The two sides should keep to the keynote of partnership as the defining feature of bilateral relations, review and handle specific issues arising from the development of relations within this framework, avoid politicizing economic and trade issues and securitizing exchanges, promote an upward and dynamic balance of China-EU trade from a long-term perspective, and work for the long-term, steady development of China-EU relations. China stands ready to strengthen coordination and cooperation with the EU in global affairs, promote an equal and orderly multipolar world and a universally beneficial and inclusive economic globalization, and make positive contributions to world peace, stability and prosperity.

The European side stated that the EU highly values its relations with China, admires China’s tremendous development achievements, and opposes “decoupling” from China. EU-China relations are currently at a critical juncture. The European side welcomes the resumption of exchanges between the legislatures of the two sides and stands ready to strengthen exchanges and dialogue with China to enhance understanding and promote cooperation, so as to promote the sound and steady development of EU-China relations. China’s role is crucial on many major issues in today’s world. The European side is ready to maintain close communication with China and strengthen cooperation in particular in such areas as promoting green development and addressing climate change.

In response to questions, Wang Yi stated China’s position on such issues as trade imbalance, the Ukraine crisis, human rights, and artificial intelligence.

In Bejing, the delegation also met with Vice Chairman of the NPC Standing Committee Li Hongzhong and Minister of the International Department of the CPC Liu Haixing. Shanghai serves as the second and final stop of the trip. In Shanghai, MEPs were received by municipal authorities including Mayor Gong Zheng, held meetings with leading scholars at Fudan University, and witnessed first-hand the practical applications of AI.

China-EU Arrangement on a New Round of Joint Research Funding

Recently, the Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST) of the People's Republic of China and the European Commission signed an Administrative Arrangement on a new round of  joint research funding.

Under the arrangement, the two sides will, from 2025 to 2027, jointly fund pragmatic joint R&D cooperation among universities, research institutes, and enterprises from China and Europe, focusing on areas such as Food, Agriculture, and Biosolutions (FAB) and Climate Change and Biodiversity (CCB). The cooperation aims to jointly address global challenges like climate change, providing science and technology solutions to promote carbon neutrality and green, low-carbon development. According to the arrangement, the Chinese side implements the co-funding mechanism through the "Key Project on Intergovernmental International Cooperation in Science, Technology, and Innovation" under the National Key R&D Program of China, while the EU side implements it through "Horizon Europe".

The China-EU Co-Funding Mechanism was established in 2015. The previous funding agreement (2021–2024) provided solid support for researchers from both sides to carry out joint research and exchanges.

FM Wang Yi met with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Manila

Wang Yi said that the two heads of state successfully held a historic meeting in Beijing and set the course for a constructive China-U.S. relationship of strategic stability. The task now is to stay on the track laid out by the two heads of state, remove interference, overcome obstacles, and ensure that their consensus is translated into whole-of-government and cross-sector consensus and concrete actions, thereby promoting world peace and security through China-U.S. strategic stability and providing important impetus for international cooperation through constructive interactions between China and the US.

The meeting took place on the sidelines of the China-ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting.

Outcomes and Highlights of WAIC 2026

China submitted the Position Paper on Global Cyber Governance In the Digital Intelligent Age to the UN

The document advocates respecting digital sovereignty and promoting development for all.

Countries have the right to independently choose their paths of digital intelligent technology development including AI, as well as to independently choose AI technologies, products, and services in light of their respective national conditions.

No country should be forced to take sides.

It also calls for upholding multilateralism and addressing effectively the disruptive impact of emerging technologies such as AI on cyber security, and formulate international cyberspace rules that keep pace with the times.

China stands ready to have closer cooperation with other countries to enable a more just, equitable and effective international order in cyberspace and build a community with a shared future in cyberspace.

Foreign Tourism to China Surges in H1 2026

On Trade Issues

CCTV: It’s reported that French President Macron and German Chancellor Merz expressed their concerns over China-EU trade imbalances, industrial subsidies, and RMB exchange rate when they met the press.  In the meantime, they insisted that neither France nor Germany was anti-China and they were not seeking to decouple from China. Does China have any comment on that?

FM Spokesperson Lin Jian:  China attaches high importance to the economic and trade differences between China and the EU, and believes that both sides can properly handle those differences through dialogue, consultation and policy interaction. Those differences should not be an obstacle to China-EU mutual trust and cooperation, the pretext to decouple and sever supply chains, and still less be used as an excuse for making groundless accusations against China. 

Under the WTO framework, international trade is a two-way street and there is no forced trade. The China-EU economic and trade relations are win-win in nature. China never seeks a trade surplus with Europe. The China-EU trade structure is shaped by international division of labor, competitive advantages and many other factors. China always abides by the WTO rules and basic norms of market economy including free trade, fair competition, and open cooperation. There are no such things as WTO prohibited subsidies in China. China’s industrial competitiveness comes from the combined advantages of its complete industrial system, super-sized market, and sound innovation ecosystem. The competitiveness is also driven by the Chinese companies’ strenuous efforts and long-term dedication. China is a responsible major country. We have never manipulated exchange rate, and will not undervalue our currency to gain a competitive edge, still less will use exchange rate as a tool to shield us from external disruptions including trade disputes.

Protectionism leads nowhere. Win-win cooperation is the right way forward. The root cause of the EU’s problems on trade and economy does not lie with China. Instead, China can be a partner for the EU in addressing the problems. We notice that many European companies have recently said that decoupling won’t work and called for more cooperation with China. In the recent first meeting of the China-EU Trade and Investment Consultations, the two sides had a comprehensive, in-depth and constructive discussion on important issues concerning China-EU trade and economy, and achieved new progress. It is hoped that both France and Germany can act with a rational and practical attitude as core EU member states, play a positive and constructive role, help the EU go along the same direction with China, and address each other’s concerns through dialogue and negotiation so as to open up a new prospect of upward balance and sustainable development of China-EU trade.

Q: On July 20, the European Commission announced a fine of EUR 550 million on AliExpress under the EU’s Digital Services Act. What is China’s comment on this?

MOFCOM Spokesperson: China has noted the relevant development and expresses strong dissatisfaction and serious concern. China firmly opposes the EU’s practice of erecting digital barriers under the guise of platform regulation and taking discriminatory measures to restrict and suppress the normal operations of Chinese e-commerce companies in Europe. China urges the EU side to stop abusing its discretion by taking advantage of the vagueness of legal provisions, and to treat Chinese companies in a fair and just manner. China will firmly support its enterprises in safeguarding their rights through legal means and will take strong measures to resolutely protect their interests.

On the Inclusion of Chinese Companies in the EU’s 21st Package of Sanctions Against Russia

Q: On July 23, 2026, the EU adopted its 21st package of sanctions against Russia, which includes listing and sanctions against additional Chinese companies. What is China’s comment?

Spokesperson of the Chinese Mission to the EU: Despite China’s strong opposition and repeated solemn representations, the EU adopted its 21st package of sanctions against Russia which includes listings and sanctions against additional Chinese companies. The Chinese side expresses its strong dissatisfaction and firm opposition to this move and has once again lodged solemn representations with the EU side. China has taken corresponding measures to firmly safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese companies.

China maintains an objective and impartial position on the Ukraine crisis and has been committed to promoting peace talks and playing a constructive role in facilitating a political settlement. China firmly opposes the EU’s attempts to shift the blame onto China and to make unwarranted accusations and smear China over the Ukraine crisis. China also strongly opposes the EU’s groundless listings and sanctions against Chinese companies and citizens. China urges the EU to immediately correct its wrongdoings, remove the negative impact, and take practical actions to safeguard the overall picture of China-EU relations.

Quotes of the Seminar on China-EU Cooperation on Green Transition

Held in Brussels, the Seminar on China-EU Cooperation on Green Transition, co-organized by the Chinese Mission to the EU and Europe Jacques Delors, gathers high-level European and Chinese policymakers and experts.

The EU-China relations are a typical case of the "Yin-Yang" philosiphy.  We may regard strained global trade ties as the yin, and joint climate action to curb global warming as the yang. I believe the approach is the key to the proper balancing of the EU-China relationship. 

The EU and China have a lot in common. I'm absolutely convinced that the two sides have the necessity to fight climate change together. I think we have a lot to gain from each other. There're some hesitations and fears within the EU, but once again, if you look at the situation with a certain realism and in a positive and constructive manner, you'll find that we can achieve a lot. 

Click here to review the highlights of the event held 

Congratulations on the inscription of the Jingdezhen Handicraft Porcelain Industry Sites as a UNESCO World Heritage site

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in the newsletter are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of China, except those from the official website of the Chinese Foreign Ministry, Chinese Mission to the EU and other Chinese governmental websites.

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                                                                                   Editor: LIU Di