A forthcoming summit between European Union (EU) and Chinese leaders is expected to take place in the latter half of July, a spokesperson for European Council President António Costa confirmed on Friday.
The summit will be held in China. "Regarding the EU-China summit, we are coordinating with China to set the meeting date, which is anticipated to occur in China during the second half of July," said the spokesperson.
Costa stated in January that China and the EU were preparing a summit for 2025 to mark the 50th anniversary of their relations.
A few weeks later, Chinese President Xi Jinping declined a European invitation to attend the summit in Brussels, according to the Financial Times. Consequently, the summit will now be held in Beijing.
The summer meeting will follow an EU-Japan summit that is scheduled to take place in the Japanese archipelago, with preparations currently underway.
The confirmation of the EU-China summit comes amidst a trade war between Beijing and Washington, characterised by escalating tariffs.
Relations between the EU and the United States are strained by a trust crisis, prompting European leaders to increase their travels and interactions in recent months to strengthen and expand their trade and diplomatic relations.
