Amid renewed turbulence in the global order, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi has on Monday embarked on a diplomatic mission to Europe, starting June 30 to July 6, aiming to reset strained ties with the European Union. The visit comes at a time when the return of Donald Trump to the White House has rattled international alignments and revived geopolitical uncertainties.
Wang is expected to hold key meetings in Brussels, Paris, and Berlin in a bid to reinvigorate EU-China relations, which remain dogged by a substantial trade deficit and Beijing’s perceived support for Moscow amid the war in Ukraine.
The Chinese foreign ministry confirmed the visit and said Wang would hold a strategic dialogue with EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs Kaja Kallas in Brussels, before proceeding to meet with German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul and France’s Jean-Noël Barrot, who last visited Beijing in March.
Trade tensions are likely to dominate the agenda. The European Union continues to express unease over its growing trade deficit with China, which reached $357.1 billion, alongside concerns over Beijing’s reluctance to distance itself from Moscow. Despite such pressures, China has managed to stay out of the direct firing line of the US-led alliance supporting Ukraine.
Also read: China-Pak-Afghanistan talks hint at escalation with India
In a briefing last Friday, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun struck a defiant note. “The world is undergoing an accelerated evolution of a century-old change, with unilateralism, protectionism and bullying behaviour becoming rampant,” Guo remarked. His statement was widely viewed as a veiled criticism of US President Trump’s combative stance on trade and foreign policy.
Guo went on to frame the EU-China partnership as essential to maintaining global stability. “Beijing and the European bloc must keep the world peaceful and stable, safeguard multilateralism, free trade, international rules, fairness and justice, and act firmly as anchors of stability and constructive forces in a volatile world,” he said.
With the war in Ukraine set to dominate Wang Yi’s meetings, Brussels is expected to urge Beijing to take a clearer stance on the conflict. The EU has long sought clarity from China over its ambiguous position on Russia’s invasion and its growing economic ties with Moscow.
At stake is not only diplomatic trust but the future of multilateralism itself. Wang’s visit, seen in Beijing as a crucial attempt to reframe the narrative, is also intended to signal that China remains committed to engagement with the West, even as the global balance of power continues to shift.
Follow us
