Chinese, EU leaders agree to deepen ties amid Trump pressure, in anniversary exchanges

The leaders of China and the European Union exchanged “congratulatory messages” on Tuesday, as the sides marked the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations amid Donald Trump’s global trade war.

Chinese President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Qiang exchanged separate letters with European Council President Antonio Costa and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.

Xi, describing the relationship as one of the “most influential in the world”, urged the Europeans to “adhere to multilateralism, defend fairness and justice, oppose unilateral bullying, work together to meet global challenges, and jointly promote an equal and orderly world”, according to Chinese state news agency Xinhua.

Xi told the Europeans that “the world is undergoing a century-long transformation, and human society has once again come to a critical crossroads … a healthy and stable China-EU relationship will not only achieve mutual success, but also illuminate the world”.

In a letter addressed to Xi – seen by the South China Morning Post – the EU leaders said the anniversary “takes place at a moment of global uncertainty and geopolitical changes”, saying the bloc “remains committed to deepening our partnership with China”.

“A balanced relationship, built on fairness and reciprocity, is in our common interest,” it said.