Fang Dongkui, Secretary General of the China Chamber of Commerce to the EU (CCCEU) Photo: Courtesy of CCCEU

The Chinese business community in the EU expects more institutionalized dialogue between China and the EU on trade and investment, as well as greater engagement in the green transition, digital transformation, and high-end manufacturing — areas with vast potential for win-win collaboration, Fang Dongkui, Secretary General of the China Chamber of Commerce to the EU, said in an exclusive written interview with the Global Times on Thursday.

The remarks were made against the backdrop of the visit of Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi to Brussels. During the visit, the 13th round of China-EU High-level Strategic Dialogue, was held on Wednesday local time in the EU headquarters in Brussels, as both sides were commemorating the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and the EU.

During the meeting, Wang and EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas agreed to deepen mutual understanding and work together to get well-prepared for the upcoming leaders' meeting for enhancing cooperation, the Xinhua News Agency reported on Thursday.

Commenting on the meeting, Fang said that "We highly commend the outcomes of this strategic dialogue and are encouraged by the positive signals it has sent ahead of the upcoming China-EU leaders' meeting."

"From the perspective of the business community, this dialogue reaffirmed the essential nature of the China-EU relationship — one built on partnership, not rivalry, with cooperation as the cornerstone," the chamber head said.

At a time of rising global uncertainty and instability, such high-level exchanges help maintain predictability and reinforce mutual trust, Fang said, noting that both sides reiterated shared support for multilateralism, the central role of the United Nations, and a rule-based international order — all of which are critical to global economic recovery and long-term prosperity.

Despite global headwinds, the EU remained China's second-largest trading partner in the first five months of 2025, with total trade value reaching 2.3 trillion yuan ($317 billion), up 2.9 percent year-on-year, and accounting for 12.8 percent of China's total trade, according to data released by the General Administration of Customs.

Active business cooperation has fueled the robust trade. Chinese enterprises have long been active participants in the European market, contributing to local development through investment, employment, and innovation. 

However, in recent years, many companies have also encountered challenges stemming from increasing politicization of economic issues and a growing tendency to frame normal commercial activities through the lens of security or ideology, according to Fang.

"We sincerely hope the EU will uphold its commitment to openness, fair competition, and non-discrimination. It is important that Europe provides a transparent, predictable, and rule-based business environment for all enterprises, including those from China," Fang said, noting that this includes resisting protectionist pressures and ensuring that decisions are based on objective economic facts rather than strategic mistrust.

"We welcome remarks from both sides affirming their commitment to deepening balanced and fair economic cooperation... We firmly believe that with mutual respect and pragmatic engagement, China and the EU can strengthen their comprehensive strategic partnership and jointly contribute to a more stable, inclusive, and prosperous global economy," the chamber head said.