EU and China Seek Common Ground on Trade and Diplomatic Issues

The leaders of China and the European Union (EU) held talks in Beijing, focusing on trade disputes, subsidies, and the conflict in Ukraine. The EU called on China to improve market access to address the trade imbalance between the two sides, while China expressed unhappiness with an EU investigation into subsidies for electric vehicles and possible restrictions on technology exports. The EU also urged China to use its influence with Russia to end the Ukraine conflict. The meeting comes after Italy reportedly withdrew from China's "Belt and Road" initiative. China defended the initiative, stating that the dropouts would not affect its future. China appears to be taking a more moderate tone in its foreign policy, following talks with US President Joe Biden.