China-Europe businesses look for certainty as economic ties evolve

Editor's note: The Secretariat of the China-Europe Business Council is hosted by the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China.

This article reflects the Secretariat's​ views and not necessarily those of CGTN.

It has been translated from Chinese and edited for clarity and brevity.

For companies operating between China and Europe, the key question today is not whether the two markets remain connected, but how those ties can become more stable and sustainable in a changing global economy.

The latest China-EU trade consultations in Beijing offered a new indication that both sides are seeking to manage differences while keeping economic links open.

On October 8 and 9, Chinese Minister of Commerce Wang Wentao and European Commissioner for Trade and Economic Security Maros Sefcovic jointly chaired the second meeting of the China-EU Trade and Investment Consultation Mechanism.

The two sides reached a 16-point consensus covering areas including trade, investment and industrial cooperation.

The discussions came at a time when businesses worldwide are reassessing supply chains, investment strategies and market priorities.

For companies with operations in both China and Europe, greater predictability has become a key factor in decisions on production, innovation and long-term expansion.

The scale of China-Europe economic ties remains significant.

Trade in goods between China and the European Union reached $828.1 billion in 2025, while two-way investment exceeded $280 billion by the end of the year.

But these figures represent more than trade volumes.

Behind them are years of investment, technology partnerships and supply chain links built by companies on both sides.

A factory project can take years from planning to production, while research cooperation requires sustained commitment before innovations reach the market.