At a meeting held in Beijing on Thursday, Chinese President Xi Jinping and European Union (EU) leaders Ursula von der Leyen and Charles Michel engaged in wide-ranging discussions centered around trade disputes and the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.

The EU has been urging China to enhance market access in order to rectify the annual trade imbalance of over $200 billion between the two sides. In response, China has expressed discontent over the EU's investigation into electric vehicle subsidies and potential restrictions on technology exports.

In her remarks, Von der Leyen emphasized the importance of managing differences responsibly, acknowledging that China is the EU's most vital trading partner. She asserted that clear imbalances and disparities must be addressed.

President Xi called for the handling of disagreements through dialogue and expressed reservations about what his government perceives as a shift in Europe towards a more confrontational stance on China. He encouraged both sides not to view each other as rivals solely based on differing systems or allow disagreements to impede cooperation.

The meeting occurred shortly after Italy, an EU member, reportedly withdrew from China's "Belt and Road" initiative, which aims to establish a global network of Chinese-funded infrastructure projects. Italy's participation in the initiative, which began in 2019, was anticipated to boost trade with China and attract investments in major infrastructure endeavors. However, these anticipated benefits did not materialize, with Italy's trade deficit with China rising from 20 billion euros to 48 billion euros ($21.5 billion to $51.8 billion) over the intervening years.

Following their meeting with President Xi, Von der Leyen and Michel also held discussions with China's Premier Li Qiang. The focus of their talks was the significant trade imbalance and the underlying reasons behind it. They attributed a slowdown in the Chinese economy, leading to reduced domestic demand and the diversion of products to the European market, as a contributing factor.

Von der Leyen emphasized the necessity of an in-depth exploration of the issues, along with seeking concrete results. The EU has initiated an investigation into China's subsidies for electric vehicles, aiming to determine if they provide an unfair competitive advantage in European markets. China has expressed its desire to import advanced technologies and high-value products from Europe, hoping that trade barriers will not impede their access to such goods.

The conflict in Ukraine has also strained China-EU relations, as China has maintained a neutral stance, which the EU perceives as unhelpful. The EU has urged China to ensure that its exports do not aid Russia's war effort and that companies operating in China comply with sanctions against Russia. Von der Leyen reiterated that Russia's aggression in Ukraine constitutes a violation of international law and a serious threat to European security. She called upon China to use its influence to halt the war of aggression and facilitate a peace formula in Ukraine.

The Chinese Foreign Ministry's spokesperson, Wang, reasserted China's call for an immediate ceasefire in Ukraine and the initiation of talks between Western leaders and Russian President Vladimir Putin to discuss European security and strategic stability. He stressed that China, as an independent and sovereign nation, expects Russia to act in its own national interest and security.

The talks between Chinese and EU leaders underline the complexities of their relationship, encompassing trade disparities, subsidy investigations, and differing perspectives on the Ukraine conflict. Both sides have emphasized the importance of constructive dialogue and the pursuit of mutually beneficial outcomes. The discussions hold significant implications for the future economic and political ties between these global powers.

Note: The information provided in this article is sourced from the initial text provided.