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Šefčovič in Beijing spoke about the balance in relations between the EU and China

by AI | 27.Mar 2025 | Europe in brief AI

European Commissioner Maros Sefcovic spoke about the need for balance in EU-China relations during a two-day working visit to Beijing.

European Commissioner for Trade Maros Sefcovic began a two-day working visit to China. PHOTO: X/M. Sefcovic

Brussels/Beijing – The priority of the European Commission (EC) is to restore and focus relations between the European Union and China to achieve tangible rebalancing in important sectors of our economy. This was stated on Thursday in Beijing by the European Commissioner for Trade and Economic Security Maroš Šefčovič as part of his working visit, informs TASR’s Brussels correspondent.

Šefčovič is in Beijing on March 27 and 28 on his first official visit under the new mandate of the European Commission. According to the official statement of the European Commission, he is to discuss trade and investment relations, with the aim of his visit being to support a more balanced and cooperative trade relationship between the EU and China, focusing on reciprocity, transparency, and mutual benefit.

On Thursday, he met with representatives of European businesses represented in the European Union Chamber of Commerce in China (EUCCC). “Congratulations to the European Union Chamber of Commerce in China on 25 years of excellent work. We always enjoy hearing the opinions of EU businesses on-site. Since there are many challenges including uneven playing fields, my priority is to restore and focus relations between the EU and China to achieve tangible rebalancing in important sectors of our economy,” said Šefčovič at the meeting with EUCCC representatives, which he also reported on social media.

The Slovak European Commissioner in China should address the EU’s systemic concerns about the negative impact of China’s non-market policies and practices and wants to highlight issues with barriers to European companies accessing the Chinese market that affect EU exports and investments in China. One of the goals of his visit will be to explore ways to align Chinese investments in the EU with the priorities and political goals of the 27-member Union.

On Thursday, he is scheduled to hold a working meeting with the Vice Premier of China He Lifeng and Minister of Customs Sun Meijun. On Friday (March 28), he will meet with China’s Minister of Commerce Wang Wentao.

The Commission, in connection with his working visit to China, reminded that trade relations between the EU and China are worth 730 billion euros annually. (March 27)