Fifty years ago, China-EU trade was like a quiet stream. Today? It's a roaring river 🌊. As President Xi Jinping met EU leaders in Beijing this week, he called for 'more stability and certainty' in a world that sometimes feels like a TikTok trend—constantly changing!
From Trickle to Tsunami
Back in 1975, annual trade between China and Europe totaled $2.4 billion. Fast-forward to 2024: $785.8 billion flows between them every year—that's 300x growth! 🤯 Think of it like upgrading from dial-up internet to 5G in half a century.
Three Rules for the Road Ahead
Xi proposed a blueprint for EU-China relations:
🤝 Team Up, Don't Break Up: 'No geopolitical contradictions' between the two powers
📦 Keep Markets Open: Avoid 'restrictive tools' that could slow trade
🌱 Green Tech Power Duo: Boost cooperation on climate and digital innovation
The EU's new battery plant in Portugal by China's CALB—creating 1,800 jobs—shows this isn't just talk 💼.
Climate Warriors Unite
In a move that'd make Greta Thunberg nod, both sides pledged stronger climate action. Their joint statement on green development could give even more momentum to renewable energy projects worldwide 🌱.
As former EU trade chief Pascal Lamy told CGTN: 'Our differences are real, but so is our shared ground.' Translation? This partnership isn't swiping left anytime soon ❤️.
