Potential for China, EU cooperation is vast, Beijing seminar hears

China and the European Union share a vast potential for cooperation thanks to their complementary economies, while resolving differences through dialogue serves the best interests of both sides, a number of experts said on Thursday.

The remarks were made at a seminar hosted by the Institute of European Studies at the Chinese Academy of International Trade and Economic Cooperation in Beijing.

"The industrial chains of China and the EU are highly aligned, their technologies strongly complementary and their markets deeply shared," said Guo Zhihui, vice-president of the academy.

"The two sides have formed an intertwined community of shared interests."

In recent years, Chinese companies have significantly increased R&D investments in Europe, particularly in renewable energy, artificial intelligence and robotics, Guo said. At the same time, European firms are leveraging China's innovation ecosystem and supply chain advantages to optimize their global operations, she added.

China remains "the heavyweight champion of highly efficient and cost-effective supply chains," according to the European Business in China Business Confidence Survey 2026, released Wednesday by the European Union Chamber of Commerce in China and the Roland Berger consultancy firm.

Up to 75 percent of respondents said their China‑based production is more efficient than operations elsewhere, according to the report.

The report also found that 48 percent of respondents now consider Chinese firms in their industry more innovative than their European counterparts, compared with just 24 percent who favor European firms — underscoring China's dynamic R&D ecosystem.

Ondrej Dostal, a member of the European Parliament, told the seminar: "We need to seek truth from facts. I see the relationship between the EU and China not as strategic rivalry, but as practical cooperation."

Dostal has advocated for synergizing the Belt and Road Initiative with the EU's Global Gateway project to promote shared prosperity, as well as fostering cooperation in AI, healthcare and green energy.

On managing differences, Jian Junbo, director of the Center for China-Europe Relations at Fudan University, said issues should be addressed through bilateral, not unilateral, means.

"Unilateral measures only create greater conflict. The only way forward is through dialogue and coordinated action," he said.

To facilitate greater cooperation, Jian suggested a "whitelist" approach, designating sectors where trade and investment can flow freely without restrictions.

"Rather than breaking ties, we should make our economies more embedded. Through closer cooperation, competition itself becomes less problematic," Jian added.