EU-China Summit, 9 April 2019

Summary:

The 21st bilateral summit between the European Union and China was held on 9 April 2019.

Further information:

Both sides committed to further strengthen the EU-China strategic partnership during the summit. China and the European Union agreed on a joint statement setting out the direction for bilateral relations in the following years. Leaders expressed their joint support for multilateralism and rules-based trade. They reaffirmed their joint engagement to reform the World Trade Organisation. The EU and China agreed to work together to address industrial subsidies.

In addition to the joint statement, the parties also signed:

• a memorandum of understanding on a dialogue in the area of the state aid control and the fair competition review;
• an agreement on the terms of reference of the EU-China competition policy dialogue;
• a joint statement on the implementation of the EU-China cooperation on energy;

The EU and China vowed to continue to forge synergies between China's belt and road initiative and the EU's initiatives with a view to improve Europe-Asia connectivity.

• Primary Source

Commentary and Analysis

ECFR: Commentary, 02/04/2019: The EU, China, and human rights in Xinjiang: Time for a new approach https://www.ecfr.eu/article/commentary_the_eu_china_and_human_rights_in_xinjiang_time_for_a_new_approac

Euronews, 10/04/2019: What does the EU trade with China? In charts https://www.euronews.com/2019/04/09/bei-ching-the-figures-behind-the-eu-s-trade-with-china

Euro|topics, April 2019: Does the EU have any leverage vis-à-vis China? https://www.eurotopics.net/en/218024/

EPRS: At a Glance, April 2019: Towards a new EU policy approach to China: 21st EU-China Summit – April 2019 http://www.europarl.europa.eu/thinktank/en/document.html?reference=EPRS_ATA(2019)637913

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News

EurActiv, 05/04/2019: US-China talks blocking concessions to EU, Brussels complains https://www.euractiv.com/section/economy-jobs/news/us-china-talks-blocking-concessions-to-eu-brussels-complains/

Reuters, 05/04/2019: EU, China stumble over trade, human rights ahead of summit https://uk.reuters.com/article/idUKKCN1RH1A4

Deutsche Welle, 08/04/2019: China to 'further open' its doors to Europe, PM Li says ahead of summit https://p.dw.com/p/3GRae

Bloomberg, 09/04/2019: EU and China Rescue Plan to Present United Front to Trump https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-04-09/eu-china-said-to-rescue-summit-plan-to-show-trump-united-front

Politico, 09/04/2019: EU scores at China summit with assist from Trump https://www.politico.eu/article/eu-china-summit-result-assist-donald-trump/

EurActiv, 09/04/2019: EU, China agree on joint statement as Beijing makes last-ditch concessions https://www.euractiv.com/section/economy-jobs/news/eu-china-agree-on-joint-statement-as-beijing-makes-last-ditch-concessions/

CGTN, 09/04/2019: Premier Li reiterates shared interests between China and EU https://news.cgtn.com/news/3d3d674e3549544f33457a6333566d54/index.html

Bloomberg, 09/04/2019: Europe Claims Progress in Prodding China to Open Its Market https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-04-09/europe-claims-progress-in-prodding-china-to-open-its-market

Deutsche Welle, 09/04/2019: EU announces 'breakthrough' on trade with China https://p.dw.com/p/3GWzW

CGTN, 10/04/2019: China, EU reaffirm commitment to multilateralism https://news.cgtn.com/news/3d3d414d3549544f33457a6333566d54/index.html

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Official

Joint statement of the 21st EU-China summit https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2019/04/09/joint-statement-of-the-21st-eu-china-summit/

European Council: Remarks by President Donald Tusk after the EU-China summit in Brussels, 9 April 2019 https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2019/04/09/remarks-by-president-donald-tusk-after-the-eu-china-summit-in-brussels/

Chinese State Council: News, 10/04/2019: China, EU vow to uphold multilateralism, facilitate bilateral trade, investment http://english.gov.cn/premier/news/2019/04/10/content_281476602171910.htm

European Commission: Remarks of President Juncker at the joint press conference with Mr Li Keqiang, Premier of the State Council of the People's Republic of China, and Mr Donald Tusk, President of the European Council, following the EU-China Summit http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_SPEECH-19-2078_en.htm

European Commission: Press Release, 09/04/2019: EU-China Summit: Rebalancing the strategic partnership http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_IP-19-2055_en.htm

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ESO Records

20th EU-China Summit, 16 July 2018 https://www.europeansources.info/record/eu-china-summit-16-july-2018/

Joint Communication on ‘EU-China – A strategic outlook’, March 2019 https://www.europeansources.info/record/joint-communication-on-eu-china-a-strategic-outlook/

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