The European Union and China (CRS Report for Congress)
| Release Date |
Revised June 2, 2023 |
| Report Number |
IF10252 |
| Report Type |
In Focus |
| Authors |
Vincent L. Morelli |
| Source Agency |
Congressional Research Service |
| Older Revisions |
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Summary:
The European Economic Community (EEC), the
predecessor to the European Union (EU), and China
established diplomatic relations in 1975. The EU-China
relationship, which began as a framework of economic
cooperation, has evolved into a comprehensive political and
economic relationship. Today, the EU’s China policy
prioritizes reciprocity, a level playing field, and fair
competition in political and economic relations. It also
seeks to advance European values, such as the promotion of
democracy, rule of law, human rights, economic and social
reform in China, and respect for the U.N. Charter’s
principles, and to raise the EU’s profile in China
Since 1998, the EU and China have held annual summits,
alternating between Brussels and Beijing. These summits
affirm the EU’s long-term interest in, and maintenance of,
its political and economic relations with China.
At the 16th summit, held in November 2013, the EU-China
Strategic 2020 Agenda for Cooperation was launched
(http://eeas.europa.eu/archives/docs/china/docs/
20131123_agenda_2020__en.pdf). The agenda established
the framework intended to guide EU-China relations until
2020. The Strategic 2020 Agenda is being implemented
through three pillars of EU-China relations: a High-Level
Strategic Dialogue, a High-Level Economic and Trade
Dialogue, and a biannual People-to-People Dialogue
established in 2012.
Today, according to the EU, the EU and China have over
70 high-level and senior-level dialogues, working groups,
and steering committees reflecting the wide-ranging scope
of the relationship, including in areas such as cyber,
transnational crime, economics, high-tech innovation,
tourism, energy, and the environment. The EU and China
also have agreed to further develop exchanges on legal
affairs and digital connectivity.
