Li Qiang on European Union
TL;DR
Li Qiang advocates for strengthening political trust and expanding mutually beneficial cooperation with the European Union despite existing trade challenges.
Key Points
He stated that China is ready to work with the European Union to promote the optimized and balanced development of China-EU trade as of October 27, 2025.
He expressed the hope that the EU would provide a fair, equitable, and non-discriminatory business environment for Chinese enterprises operating in Europe on October 27, 2025.
He urged the EU to properly handle differences in economic and trade cooperation through dialogue and consultation based on equality and respect.
Summary
Li Qiang positions the European Union relationship as one that currently faces both development opportunities and challenges, urging both sides to adhere to the right course. His core stance is to solidify the foundation of political mutual trust and work toward expanding the economic "cooperation pie," specifically targeting growth in green and digital sectors, as well as innovation and industrial supply chains, to achieve high-level mutual benefit. He stresses a willingness to resolve economic and trade issues through dialogue and consultation based on equality and respect.
He consistently calls for the EU to maintain a fair, equitable, and non-discriminatory business environment for Chinese enterprises operating in Europe. This engagement strategy involves strengthening high-level exchanges and coordination on global issues like climate change, while pushing back against perceived protectionist measures by asking the EU to prudently introduce restrictive economic policies. His approach seeks stability and reciprocity, emphasizing that China has no fundamental geopolitical conflict with the EU.
Frequently Asked Questions
Li Qiang views the current China-EU relationship as having both development opportunities and challenges that need careful management. He strongly advocates for solidifying political mutual trust and expanding economic cooperation across key sectors like green and digital technologies. His overall goal is to keep bilateral ties on the 'right course' through constructive engagement.
The Premier emphasizes expanding cooperation in emerging areas such as green and digital sectors, scientific and technological innovation, and industrial and supply chains. He seeks to make the 'cooperation pie bigger' by promoting optimized and balanced trade development between China and the EU. This is to be achieved through further mutual opening up to create new growth points.
Li Qiang expects the EU to provide a fair, equitable, and non-discriminatory business environment for Chinese enterprises operating in Europe. He also hopes that EU institutions will play a positive role in the relationship's development. He maintains that economic issues should be resolved through dialogue and consultation, not restrictive measures.
Sources3
Li Qiang Meets with President of the European Council Antonio Costa_Embassy of the People's Republic of China in the United States of America
China willing to work with EU to keep bilateral ties on right track -- premier
Li Qiang Meets with President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen_Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China
* This is not an exhaustive list of sources.