Beijing: Beijing will host the 25th EU-China summit next week, as announced by the EU Council in an official statement. EU Council President Antonio Costa and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen are set to attend the leaders' summit on July 24.

According to Anadolu Agency, media reports had previously suggested that the summit was intended to span two days, but it has been reduced to a single day at Beijing's insistence. The agenda for the summit is expected to include discussions on the Russia-Ukraine conflict, rare earths, and trade protection in the context of tariffs imposed during the Trump administration. Beijing has not yet issued a formal statement regarding the planned summit.

The 24th China-EU leaders' summit took place in Beijing in December 2023, with former European Council President Charles Michel, von der Leyen, and China's President Xi Jinping in attendance. Prior to the China-EU summit, EU leaders are scheduled to meet Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba on Wednesday in Tokyo.

An EU Parliament delegation is also set to visit Taiwan from Monday to Wednesday to engage with Taiwanese authorities and civil society representatives, as stated by the parliament. Members of the special committee on the EU policy framework "European Democracy Shield" will observe Taiwan's approach to counter hybrid threats, foreign interference, and disinformation.

Early Friday, the EU imposed sanctions on Chinese banks over trade with Russia, a move opposed by Beijing, which has urged the European side not to undermine the legitimate interests of Chinese companies without reasonable grounds.