This edition highlights recent high-level exchanges between China and Europe, with a particular focus on China's latest comments and perspectives on China-EU economic and trade relations. It also features updates on China's latest measures to further expand high-standard opening-up. We hope you enjoy this issue.

China-Europe High-Level Exchanges 

UK Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper in China

On June 2, 2026, Vice President Han Zheng met with UK Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper in Beijing.

Han Zheng stated that in January this year, President Xi Jinping and Prime Minister Keir Starmer agreed to develop a long-term and stable comprehensive strategic partnership between China and the UK, opening a new chapter in bilateral relations. The improvement and growth of China-UK relations serves the interests of the two peoples. The two sides need to jointly shoulder major-country responsibilities, strengthen strategic communication, consolidate the sound momentum of bilateral relations, continuously explore new opportunities, foster new drivers, and promote people-to-people exchanges as well as mutual understanding between the two peoples. They should jointly practice true multilateralism, advance the reform of the global governance system, and inject greater stability and certainty into the world.

Yvette Cooper stated that the UK and China share extensive common interests and cooperation potential in such fields as economic and trade investment, artificial intelligence, green development and climate change response. The UK stands ready to work with China to follow through on the important common understandings reached by the two state leaders, conduct constructive dialogue and cooperation, and jointly address challenges.

On June 2, 2026, Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Foreign Minister Wang Yi and UK Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper held the 11th China-UK Strategic Dialogue in Beijing.

Wang Yi said that at the beginning of this year, Prime Minister Keir Starmer successfully visited China, and the leaders of the two countries reached important consensus on building a long-term and consistent comprehensive strategic partnership. This new positioning reflects the historical logic of bilateral relations, meets the practical needs of both countries’ development, and outlines a promising vision of mutual benefit. Currently, exchanges and cooperation across all fields have been fully restored and are gradually getting back on track, which should be treasured. We need to further strengthen communication, implement the important consensus reached by the leaders of the two countries, anchor the positioning of a China-UK long-term and consistent comprehensive strategic partnership, strengthen high-level exchanges, promote more practical and visible results, and jointly contribute to world peace, stability, prosperity and development, so as to inject more certainty into this turbulent world.

Wang Yi emphasized that China and the UK should take the lead in taking the right path and upholding justice, safeguard the outcomes of World War II, abide by the U.N. Charter, uphold true multilateralism, and jointly promote a more just and reasonable global governance system.

Yvette Cooper said that during Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s visit to China in January this year, the leaders of the two countries agreed to build a long-term and consistent comprehensive strategic partnership, a positioning that is very important and fully in line with both sides’ interests. The UK is willing to work with China, follow the direction set by the leaders of the two countries, maintain close high-level exchanges, advance institutional dialogue, and deepen cooperation in trade, finance, energy, artificial intelligence, climate change and other fields. The UK’s policy on the Taiwan question, which has been in place since the establishment of diplomatic relations with China, has not changed and will not change. The UK is willing to, together with China, consistently promote the healthy and stable development of UK-China relations through candid dialogue and handling differences in a constructive way.

Senior Chinese legislator meets European Parliament delegation

On May 27, 2026, Li Hongzhong, Vice-Chairman of China's National People's Congress Standing Committee, met with the European Parliament's delegation for relations with China led by Chair Engin Eroglu in Beijing on Wednesday.

Li, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, said that China is willing to work with the EU to strengthen communication, enhance mutual trust, deepen cooperation, and pursue mutual benefit and win-win outcomes.

He said China stands ready to join hands with the EU to address global challenges, promote exchanges and cooperation among legislative bodies, effectively utilize communication mechanisms, and advance the sound and stable development of China-EU relations.

Eroglu said the EU stands ready to work with China to contribute to the development of EU-China relations. 

The EP's delegation has been to Beijing and Wuhan during its stay in China. 

Photo highlights from the visit.  (Image credits @EnginEroglu_FW )

China-EU Talks on Trade

On June 4, 2026, Mr Li Chenggang, China International Trade Representative and Vice Minister of Commerce, met with Mr Maroš Šefčovič, EU Commissioner for Trade and Economic Security in Paris, France. The two sides had in-depth exchanges on issues such as WTO reform and China-EU economic and trade relations.

 China’s Opening-Up Efforts in Brief

New Regulation on Outbound Investment

On 1 June, 2026 Chinese Premier Li Qiang has signed a State Council decree issuing a new regulation on outbound investment, which will take effect from July 1, 2026.

The regulation aims to promote the country's high-standard opening-up and the high-quality development of its outbound investment, protect the legitimate rights and interests of investors and their outbound investment, and safeguard national sovereignty, security and development interests.

Consisting of 34 articles, the regulation highlights efforts to proactively align with international high-standard economic and trade rules, advance high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, and promote international cooperation in industrial and supply chains.

▶️Supporting investors in carrying out overseas investment activities in accordance with market principles and actively participating in international cooperation and competition

▶️Stipulating that investors shall comply with laws, regulations and international practices, respect local customs and cultural traditions, observe business ethics, act in good faith and engage in fair competition, fulfill social responsibilities and uphold the national image

▶️Stressing improving comprehensive services, involving relevant authorities, professional institutions, industry associations as well as trade and investment promotion organizations

▶️Stressing strengthening risk prevention and control, improving the soundness and security of outbound investment, as well as reinforcing investors' primary responsibility and preventing any disruption to the outbound investment market order

▶️ Underscoring active work to negotiate and conclude international economic and trade agreements

"Big Market for All: Export to China" Campaign shortly in the EU

China’s Ministry of Commerce has announced plans to organise more than 100 import promotion events in 2026 to expand the inflow of high-quality international goods into the Chinese market.

MOFCOM spokesperson He Yongqian said on 4 June that the overseas event under the initiative is scheduled to be held in Germany on June 11, marking the programme’s debut in the European Union.

The events will serve as platforms connecting global suppliers with the Chinese market, while helping participating countries benefit from China’s economic growth and consumption demand.

166 foreign firms approved to operate telecom services in China

China has moved to open its value-added telecommunications sector to foreign investment, with 166 overseas-funded enterprises receiving approval to operate in key pilot zones, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) announced on 4 June, 2026.

The approvals, granted since the first batch of pilot licenses for value-added telecom services was issued in February last year, allow these companies to provide services such as internet data centers (IDCs), internet access services and information services in line with Chinese laws and regulations.

The move is part of a broader push by the MIIT to promote high-quality development of the telecom industry through high-level opening-up. A key feature of the reform is the removal of foreign ownership caps for certain value-added telecom services — including IDC services — in four pilot regions: Beijing, Shanghai, Hainan and Shenzhen.

The total number of foreign-invested telecom enterprises operating across China is currently in excess of 3,100.

The 2026 World AI Conference & High-Level Meeting on Global AI Governance in Shanghai in July

Focus on China-EU relations

FM Spokesperson's Remarks

▶️ On the European Commission’s orientation debate on China-EU relations

▶️On the so-called China’s unsustainable trade imbalance and China’s concerns about the EU imposing measures against China’s trade practices

▶️On the OECD’s report related to industrial subsidies

Perspectives of the Chinese Mission to the EU

On May 28, 2026, Spokesperson of the Chinese Mission to the EU published an op-ed titled “Mutual Benefit and Win-win Cooperation are the Strongest Driving Force for China-EU Relations” on EUreporter. 

Mutual benefit and win-win cooperation are the strongest driving force for China-EU relations. Today, China-EU relations are undergoing profound changes. Yet the prevailing trend of cooperation remains unchanged, as does the fundamental nature of mutual benefit and win-win cooperation. Together, they continue to drive the EU’s green and digital transitions and enhance its competitiveness.

First, China’s industrial chains support the EU’s green transition.

Second, China serves as a “testbed” to empower the EU’s digital transition. 

Third, China acts as a “fitness club” to drive the EU’s R&D and innovation.

China-EU economic and trade relations have never been a zero-sum game in which one side wins at the expense of the other.  The two sides have enabled each other’s success and continue to need one another. Rather than speaking of so-called “trade imbalances” between China and the EU, it would be more accurate to say that there remains ample room to expand the pie of cooperation between the two sides. China welcomes Europe to board the “express train” of Chinese modernization, to build on the sound cooperation of the past 50 years and forge ahead, and to truly uphold mutual respect, the spirit of seeking common ground while shelving differences, openness and cooperation, and mutual benefit.

(Full text)

On May 29, 2026, Spokesperson of the Chinese Mission to the EU published an op-ed titled “Uphold the Partnership Positioning and Share Development Opportunities” on The Brussels Times. 

Partnership is the most accurate positioning of China-EU relations. As early as 2004, China and the EU established a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. Among the 27 member states of the EU, 20 have established various forms of partnership with China, including 15 strategic partnerships. This represents a valuable achievement built up over the past 50 years of China-EU relations, and a vivid reflection of the reality of the relationship today,  the benefits of which are tangible and widely felt by European citizens, businesses, and all sectors of society.

First, “Made in China” has helped reduce household expenses for European families, delivering tangible improvements to European people’s quality of life. 

Second, China’s vast market offers broad development opportunities for European enterprises. China has an ultra-large-scale market of 1.4 billion people. 

Third, China’s high-level opening up is creating new opportunities for European products and services. China’s door to the outside world will only open wider. 

China’s development represents an opportunity for the EU, not a risk, still less a threat. Partners are not only those who see eye to eye; partners can also seek common ground while shelving differences. We look forward to working with the EU side in the same direction to uphold the correct positioning of partnership and the prevailing trend of cooperation, and jointly promote the sound and steady development of China-EU relations, so as to deliver greater benefits to both sides and their peoples.

(Full text)

Weekly Quote 

     "The real challenge for European industry is the lack of robust, predictable domestic demand. That is something EU leaders can secure for the EU. With this kind of mesures in place, the EU stands to benefit from greater Chinese import competition, as a spur to faster productivity improvements at home. That is good for EU industry (though not for all companies) and good for consumers."

— By Martin Sandbu, the Financial Times's European economics commentator

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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