European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, speaking in China, said on Thursday (July 24) that the European Union's primary focus in talks with the United States is to achieve a negotiated solution on trade and tariffs.

She added that intense political discussions are ongoing with Washington, saying: "All instruments remain on the table until we have a satisfactory result."

Von der Leyen said that the EU's relationship with China stands on its own merits and is independent of the actions or the issues it has with others.

The European Union has expressed its expectations that China responds to the EU's concerns and use its influence to urge Russia toward accepting a ceasefire in Ukraine, von der Leyen added, saying that it is important that a ceasefire and negotiations take place to end bloodshed.

Von der Leyen said that the European Union's primary focus in talks with the United States is to achieve a negotiated solution on trade and tariffs.

She added that intense political discussions are ongoing with Washington, saying: "All instruments remain on the table until we have a satisfactory result".

The summit in the Chinese capital marked 50 years of diplomatic ties after weeks of escalating tension and wrangling that led to the duration being abruptly halved to a single day at Beijing's request.

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

BEIJING, CHINA (JULY 24, 2025) (REUTERS - Access all)

1. EUROPEAN COMMISSION PRESIDENT URSULA VON DER LEYEN AND EUROPEAN COUNCIL PRESIDENT ANTONIO COSTA ARRIVING FOR NEWS CONFERENCE

BEIJING, CHINA (JULY 24, 2025) (EUROPEAN UNION - Access all)

2. (SOUNDBITE) (English) EUROPEAN COMMISSION PRESIDENT URSULA VON DER LEYEN SAYING:

“Unlike other major markets, Europe keeps its market open to Chinese goods. This reflects our longstanding commitment to rules-based trade. However this openness is not matched by China.”

3. NEWS CONFERENCE IN PROGRESS

4. (SOUNDBITE) (English) EUROPEAN COMMISSION PRESIDENT URSULA VON DER LEYEN SAYING:

"So we have reached a clear inflection point. As we said to the Chinese leadership So we have reached a clear inflection point. As we said to the Chinese leadership, for trade to remain mutually beneficial it must become more balanced. Europe welcomes competition. We like competition, but competition has to be fair."

5. NEWS CONFERENCE IN PROGRESS

6. (SOUNDBITE) (English) EUROPEAN COMMISSION PRESIDENT URSULA VON DER LEYEN SAYING:

"We need to see progress on this issue because without progress, it would be very difficult for the European Union to maintain its current level of openness."

7. NEWS CONFERENCE IN PROGRESS

8. (SOUNDBITE) (English) EUROPEAN COMMISSION PRESIDENT URSULA VON DER LEYEN SAYING:

"And we expressed together our expectations that China would follow up on our concerns and the expectation that it would use its influence to bring Russia to accept a ceasefire, to come to the negotiation table, enter peace talks and put an end to the bloodshed. How China continues to interact with Putin's war will be a determining factor for our relations going forward."

9. NEWS CONFERENCE IN PROGRESS

10. (SOUNDBITE) (English) EUROPEAN COUNCIL PRESIDENT ANTONIO COSTA SAYING:

"And we had the opportunity to express first our conviction that China, as a permanent member of the Security Council, has a special responsibility to influence Russia to stop this war, to accept an unconditional ceasefire, and to go to a fair negotiation with Ukraine."

11. NEWS CONFERENCE IN PROGRESS

12. (SOUNDBITE) (English) EUROPEAN COMMISSION PRESIDENT URSULA VON DER LEYEN SAYING: (SOUNDBITE STARTS OVER SHOT OF COSTA)

"We have been very clear on that topic. China has an influence on Russia, like the European Union has an influence on Ukraine, and that it is our expectation that China uses this influence to make sure that Russia is coming seriously to the negotiation table. Like we in the European Union don't even have to use our influence because President Zelenskiy has already offered and is at the negotiation tables and offered to sit down and negotiate seriously with Russia."

13. NEWS CONFERENCE IN PROGRESS

14. (SOUNDBITE) (English) EUROPEAN COMMISSION PRESIDENT URSULA VON DER LEYEN SAYING:

"Our primary focus is on achieving a negotiated solution. We want a negotiated solution. We have at the moment very intense technical and political contacts and discussions that are ongoing. But we are very clear since weeks also why we want a negotiated solution. All other instruments are on the table and remain on the table until we have a satisfactory result."

15. NEWS CONFERENCE IN PROGRESS

16. (SOUNDBITE) (English) EUROPEAN COMMISSION PRESIDENT URSULA VON DER LEYEN SAYING:

"Our joint statement on climate and the environment is a big step forward. We both see the opportunities to work closer together in sectors such as emission trading just introduced here in China, carbon capture and storage, the circular economy. And our cooperation can set a global benchmark. Together, the European Union and China must uphold the Paris Agreement now, more than ever."

17. VON DER LEYEN AND COSTA LEAVING