Half a century after the establishment of relations between China and the EU, and against a backdrop of deteriorating transatlantic relations, the European Union and China held their 25th summit in Beijing.

Chinese President Xi Jinping met with European Union leaders as the 25th EU-China summit commenced, marking a significant diplomatic engagement between the world’s second-largest economy and one of its biggest trading partners.

Leaders at a summit in Beijing split over Ukraine and many trade issues. They came together with small steps on climate change and critical minerals.

At the 25th EU-China Summit, the EU raised strong concerns over human rights abuses in Tibet, including religious repression and political interference in the Dalai Lama’s succession. The CTA welcomed the EU’s stance and urged concrete action to hold China accountable.

As the two biggest economic targets in Donald Trump’s trade war, some analysts thought the European Union and China could move closer together and stake out common ground.

E.U. leaders are in Beijing to mark 50 years of diplomatic relations with China, but they have major disagreements over trade and Russia’s war against Ukraine.

The European Union and China committed to leading the world in the fight against climate change in a symbolic show of unity as the US steps back under President Donald Trump.

A joint statement promised new efforts to cut emissions at a time when China is positioning itself as the world’s one-stop shop for clean energy technologies.

"China has an influence on Russia, like the European Union has an influence on Ukraine," European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said.