Beijing:China has emphasized the importance of its industrial and supply chain relationship with the European Union, describing the ties as "highly integrated and mutually dependent." The call for dialogue comes in response to recent demands from France and Germany for new EU trade instruments, citing inadequacies in the current system to tackle ongoing challenges.

According to Anadolu Agency, China's Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun highlighted the mutually beneficial nature of the economic and trade relations between China and the EU. He expressed hope that both parties would work collaboratively to address trade concerns through dialogue and consultation, ensuring the stability of global industrial and supply chains.

French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, in a letter to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, noted the EU's "unprecedented challenges." They proposed measures to reduce European dependencies and mitigate supply-chain concentration risks. This correspondence precedes a visit by EU Trade Commissioner Maros Sefcovic to Beijing.

Sefcovic is set to meet China's Commerce Minister Wang Wentao on Thursday and Friday, marking their first encounter in three months since their last meeting in Brussels. The EU is particularly focused on making progress in sectors such as automobiles, medical devices, and agri-food products, with Sefcovic indicating that the EU may use defensive trade instruments if negotiations do not yield results.

In 2025, the EU imported £559.4 billion ($634 billion) worth of goods from China, while exports to China totaled £199.6 billion, resulting in a trade deficit of £359.8 billion in goods.