Welcome to the website of the Economic and Commercial Office of the Mission of the People’s Republic of China to the European Union.
Located at the westernmost part of the Eurasian continent, the European Union is the world's largest association of developed countries. Despite the impact of Brexit and other events in recent years, the direction of the EU integration has not changed. The 27 member states have remained united and committed to advancing reform and addressing challenges. As one of the world's largest economies, the EU has made steady progress in building its internal market in recent years, and its huge market of 450 million people is full of vitality. The current EU institutions, which took office in 2019, have set green and digital transformation as the main focus of development with a view to make the economy more resilient and competitive. New rules, laws and measures have been introduced to boost potential economic growth and promote internal convergence on development. The EU is taking positive steps to achieve the goals of carbon neutrality by 2050 and adapt to a digital age.
Despite a historic recession caused by the sudden outbreak of COVID-19, the EU’s economy has recently shown clear signs of recovery after more than a year of anti-epidemic campaign. According to the latest Spring economic forecast released by the European Commission, the EU's GDP is expected to grow by 4.2% in 2021 and will return to pre-pandemic level by the end of this year.
Since the signing of the Trade Agreement between the European Economic Community and the People's Republic of China in 1978, the bilateral economic and trade relations have been moving forward steadily and the bilateral cooperation has become increasingly broad and deepened. The EU-China comprehensive strategic partnership was launched in 2003 and China-EU 2020 Strategic Agenda for Cooperation was adopted in 2013. In recent years, frequent exchanges of visits between the Chinese and European leaders have laid a solid foundation for the growth of China-EU economic and trade relations.
As the EU economy gradually emerges from the shadow of the pandemic, China-EU economic and trade cooperation braces a historic opportunity of fresh developments in the post Covid-19 era. Under the strategic guidance of the leaders of the two sides, China-EU GI Agreement has officially entered into force and negotiations on China-EU Comprehensive Agreement on Investment have been concluded as scheduled. The trade and two-way investments have maintained resilient growth, and the pattern of all-round, multi-level and wide-ranging cooperation has been further consolidated. In spite of various challenges, China-EU economic and trade cooperation is rooted in a solid industrial foundation and broad common interests. It enjoys strong resilience and great potential with a sound momentum of mutually beneficial and win-win advancement. It is fair to say that the market of the EU and its member states offers a fertile land for the development of Chinese enterprises.In return, the active participation of Chinese enterprises will bring huge benefits to the high-quality development of the EU.
The year of 2021 marks the beginning of China's 14th Five-Year Plan for National Economic and Social Development and the launch of the EU's recovery plan. It is hoped that Chinese enterprises will continue to explore the EU market, rise to the challenges and blaze the new trail, seize opportunities in the EU’s green and digital transformation, and play a more positive role in making the pie of China-EU economic and trade cooperation bigger and bringing more benefits to the peoples of both sides.
The Economic and Commercial Office of the Mission of the People’s Republic of China to the European Union stands ready to serve the sustained and sound development of China-EU economic and trade relations.
June, 2021
