Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi met European Council President António Costa and EU foreign-policy chief Kaja Kallas in Brussels on 2 July to prepare for an EU-China leaders’ summit expected later this month. The gathering will coincide with the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two sides. Wang said Beijing is ready to “strengthen communication” with the European Union and called on both parties to act as “pillars of stability” amid global uncertainty. Costa welcomed deeper cooperation but underlined the bloc’s longstanding concerns over economic and geopolitical issues. Kallas pressed China to rebalance trade ties and to stop “enabling” Russia’s war against Ukraine, while Wang urged the EU to respect Beijing’s core interests and refrain from interference. Both sides nonetheless issued statements supporting multilateralism and pledging to work together on climate change and other global challenges. On Ukraine, Wang reiterated China’s willingness to play a constructive role in promoting peace talks. No date was announced for the summit, but EU diplomats have said it is likely to take place in late July.