China EU photo:VCG

Since the start of the year, the US has introduced a series of unilateral measures, rekindling global trade tensions. In particular, the so-called "reciprocal tariff" policy has posed a grave threat to the stability of global supply chains and the global economy. As the global economy is facing multiple challenges such as geopolitical risks, the resurgence of protectionism, and supply chain restructuring, stable, open, and mutually beneficial cross-regional cooperation is particularly valuable. 

China and the EU are both major economies and important forces for world stability. In the face of the complex international situation, they both value the importance of dialogue and cooperation, pursue openness and mutual benefit, and continuously promote high-standard economic and trade relations and institutional communication, demonstrating great resilience and an enormous potential for economic and trade cooperation. These factors not only underpin their respective development, but also contribute positive energy to safeguarding the global multilateral trading system.

On the afternoon of May 22, 2025, Chinese President Xi Jinping had a phone call with French President Emmanuel Macron at the latter's request. President Xi stressed that the two sides need to enhance strategic communication, build consensus, and seize opportunities to deepen cooperation in investment, aviation, space, nuclear energy and other traditional areas, while expanding cooperation into emerging areas such as the digital sector, green development, bio-pharmaceutics and silver economy, and enhance people-to-people ties to promote friendship between the two nations. 

Macron said that France-China relations and EU-China relations are of vital importance and of global significance. France is willing to strengthen practical cooperation with China in economy, trade and investment as well as in other fields, maintain the sound momentum of bilateral relations, and promote greater development in France-China relations, according to a statement from the Chinese Foreign Ministry. 

Shortly after the phone call, Macron said on social media: "I reaffirmed France's desire to continue building a strong economic relationship with China. In this regard, Chinese investments are welcome in France."

One day later, President Xi had a phone call with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz at the latter's request. Noting that this year marks the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and the EU, President Xi said that the two sides should jointly review the successful experience in the development of China-EU relations and send a positive signal of upholding multilateralism and free trade, as well as deepening open and mutually beneficial cooperation. 

Merz said that Germany expects to enhance exchanges and cooperation with China in various areas, uphold openness and mutual benefit, boost fair trade, safeguard world peace and jointly tackle climate change and other global challenges. A sound and steady development of EU-China relations is in the interest of both sides, and Germany is willing to play an active role in this regard, said Merz, according to a separate statement from the Chiense Foreign Ministry.

It is fair to say that when the EU is facing the US' tariff threats, the phone calls between Chinese and European leaders have sent a clear signal to the world that China and the EU will bolster deeper cooperation and closer ties, continue to defend international fairness and justice, and jointly respond to unilateral bullying by the US.

According to media reports, Chinese Minister of Commerce Wang Wentao will attend the WTO ministerial meeting in Paris in early June. On the sidelines, Wang will hold talks with Maros Sefcovic, European Commissioner for Trade and Economic Security, which will mark the third meeting between the two this year. The intensive engagements between top Chinese and European officials in the economic and trade fields show that both sides are willing to deepen practical cooperation.

China-EU relations have endured through half a century and withstood the test of time. The two sides have always enhanced mutual trust through dialogue and pursued win-win cooperation, demonstrating the broad prospects and great resilience of mutual learning between civilizations and cross-regional cooperation. 

The international landscape is undergoing profound and complex changes. As long as China and the EU stay committed to mutual respect, mutual benefit, and win-win cooperation, continue to deepen economic and trade ties, and enhance strategic mutual trust, they will surely be able to maintain stable cooperation amid these changes and expand common interests through cooperation. This will also provide more certainty and stability to the world.

The author is the Deputy Head of Research Team on Central Eastern Europe, Institute of European Studies, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS) bizopinion@global times.com.cn