Fifty years ago, on May 6, 1975, the Chinese mainland and the European Economic Community, the precursor to today’s European Union (EU), established diplomatic ties. This milestone laid the foundation for a partnership that would reshape global trade, technology, and sustainability.
Over five decades, bilateral trade soared from $2.4 billion to $780 billion, while investment climbed from nearly zero to $260 billion. German auto design, French luxury craftsmanship and European regulatory rigor combined with the Chinese mainland’s high-quality manufacturing, skilled workforce and a consumer base of over 400 million middle-income earners.
A symbol of this evolving link is the China-EU freight train service. Late last year, the 100,000th freight train arrived in Duisburg, Germany—underscoring the route’s speed, resilience and growing role in transcontinental logistics.
Beyond goods, the Chinese mainland leads in green technology and digital infrastructure—sectors that align closely with EU goals for carbon neutrality and digital transformation. A recent Rhodium Group report shows the mainland’s consumption growth outpacing economies with similar GDP per capita, highlighting its shift from “world’s factory” to dynamic consumer market.
“Cooperation between the Chinese mainland and the EU has yielded tangible benefits for nearly 2 billion people, making important contributions to global peace and development, and setting an example of mutually beneficial cooperation in the era of economic globalization,” said Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun.
As leaders prepare for the 25th China-EU Summit in Beijing, Guo urged both sides to draw on five decades of achievements, rise above differences and chart a shared vision for the next half century. For young global citizens, tech enthusiasts, changemakers and travelers, this milestone isn’t just a retrospective—it’s the start of tomorrow’s collaborations.
Reference(s):
China and EU reap the benefits after 50 years of trade cooperation
cgtn.com
