Europe and the European Union have issued a joint call to action on climate change, urging more emission cuts and greater use of green technology, as part of a tense bilateral summit with China in Beijing.
The two economic juggernauts signed a joint statement on climate change, affirming their support for the Paris Climate Agreement and calling for strong action at the upcoming COP30 climate summit in Brazil. The agreement was seen as a silver lining on a stormy day where European leaders demanded a more balanced relationship with China, citing trade imbalances.
The EU, which has a massive trade deficit with China, expressed concerns over Chinese cyberattacks, espionage, and restrictions on rare earth minerals. China pushed back against EU restrictions on Chinese exports, calling for the EU to keep its markets open and refrain from using restrictive economic tools.
Despite tensions, the two sides agreed to strengthen coordination on climate change and make greater contributions to addressing the issue. However, little movement was expected on major issues such as trade and Russia.
The EU has imposed tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles to support its carmakers, while China has criticized those tariffs and launched investigations into European pork and dairy products. The two sides also clashed over sanctions related to Russia’s war against Ukraine.
The summit marked a test of the complex relationship between Europe and China, with both sides seeking to balance their economic interests with concerns over climate change and human rights. As tensions continue to rise, the EU has been exploring new alliances elsewhere, including trade deals with Indonesia and South America.
Source: https://apnews.com/article/european-union-china-trade-summit-beijing-0f2f0b67435b88a78adef3aa001d0099