China and the European Union (EU) are celebrating 50 years of diplomatic relations, marking a milestone in their growing partnership and stronger ties.
“China and Europe are two major forces advancing multipolarity, two big markets supporting globalization, and two great civilizations advocating diversity,” said the head of the Chinese Mission to the EU during the China-EU Forum last November.
On May 6, 1975, China and the European Economic Community, the predecessor of today’s EU, formally established diplomatic relations. This pivotal moment laid the groundwork for institutionalized engagement between the two sides.
Since then, bilateral trade has skyrocketed from $2.4 billion to approximately $786 billion today—a 300-fold increase driven by successive waves of strategic, economic, and political cooperation.
Trade and Economic Growth
China’s reform and opening-up in the late 1970s spurred European enterprises to enter the Chinese market. Notably, Volkswagen established its first joint venture in China, Shanghai Volkswagen Automotive Co. Ltd., in October 1984, becoming a catalyst for China’s automotive modernization.
China’s accession to the World Trade Organization in December 2001 triggered an even steeper rise in commerce. Between 2000 and 2009, EU exports to China climbed from 26 billion euros ($28 billion) to 82 billion euros, while imports rose from 75 billion euros to 215 billion euros. By 2016, annual bilateral trade in goods reached 514.8 billion euros, with industrial and manufactured products dominating flows on both sides.
Deepening Cooperation
In the early 2000s, institutional frameworks between China and the EU deepened. In 2003, they elevated their ties to a comprehensive strategic partnership. Two years later, they issued a joint declaration on climate change, establishing the China-EU Partnership on Climate Change to coordinate policies, technology transfer, and clean energy innovation.
The China-Europe Railway Express
Launched in 2011, the China-Europe Railway Express—a hallmark of the Belt and Road Initiative—has become a vital artery in the global supply chain. By November 2022, it had completed over 100,000 trips, linking more than 220 cities across Eurasia and transporting goods valued at over $420 billion.
“The railway network offers a more balanced mode of transportation,” said Bernd Noche, a professor at the University of Duisburg-Essen in Germany and head of its Department of Transport Systems and Logistics. “It’s faster than shipping by sea but more cost-effective than air freight, making it ideal for many goods.”
Building Mutual Trust
Beyond economic and trade cooperation, China and the EU share a strong commitment to deepening political trust and contributing to global peace and prosperity.
At the Munich Security Conference in February 2023, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi reaffirmed that “there is no conflict of fundamental interests or geopolitical contradictions between China and the EU.” He urged both sides to uphold their strategic partnership “based on mutual respect, mutual trust, and long-term stability,” while using the 50th anniversary as “a new starting point to plan the blueprint for future cooperation.”
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said at a press briefing, “Although the world is changing, it still holds true that for China and the EU, cooperation outweighs competition, consensus surpasses differences, and opportunities far exceed risks.”
As they look to the future, China and the EU are poised to continue building on their shared interests, fostering collaboration that benefits both sides and contributes to global stability.
