European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen told Chinese leader Xi Jinping that "imbalances and differences" between the bloc and China must be overcome.
"China is the EU's most important trading partner," von der Leyen said at the opening of the Beijing summit, "but there are clear imbalances and differences that we need to overcome."
The EU expressed hope that the two-day summit in the Chinese capital between the bloc's leaders and Beijing's top leadership - their first face-to-face meeting in more than four years - would provide an opportunity to discuss areas of common interest such as climate change and health.
European Council President Charles Michel said the bloc was seeking "stable and mutually beneficial" relations with China in remarks at the start of the meeting at the state-run Diaoyutai Guest House in Beijing.
"We are united in our determination to pursue a stable and mutually beneficial relationship with China," Michel told Xi and other Chinese officials, adding that the bloc wanted ties based on "the principles of transparency, predictability and reciprocity ".
In his opening remarks, President Xi told Von der Leyen and Michel that China and the bloc must work together to meet global challenges.
"We must jointly address global challenges and work together to promote stability and prosperity in the world," Xi said. /BGNES
