Online MERICS media briefing on the EU-China Summit 2025

On 24 July, 2025, high-ranking politicians and diplomats from China and the European Union will gather for a summit meeting in Beijing. This year marks the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the EU and China. However, the relationship between the two sides is overshadowed by economic tensions, such as increasing competition in the automotive, pharmaceutical, and green industries, the ongoing row over access to China’s rare earths for European companies, and China’s position on Russia’s war in Ukraine. 

In this online briefing, MERICS experts presented their views on what to watch and what to expect from the summit. Their initial inputs were followed by a Q&A. 
 

Speakers: 
Abigaël Vasselier, Director of Policy and European Affairs and Head of Program for Foreign Relations, MERICS 
Jeroen Groenewegen-Lau, Head of the research team Science, Technology and Innovation, MERICS 
 

Moderator: 
Claudia Wessling, Director Communications and Publications, MERICS

You can watch the recording here: