EU pencils in China summit for July

BRUSSELS — The European Union aims to host Chinese dignitaries in July for its annual summit with Beijing, Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced after a call on Tuesday with Premier Li Qiang.

Von der Leyen called Li to discuss EU-China relations amid U.S. President Donald Trump’s tariff war against virtually the whole world. She “stressed the responsibility of Europe and China, as two of world’s largest markets, to support a strong reformed trading system, free, fair and founded on a level playing field,” the Commission said.

The Commission almost hid the news of the July summit timing, mentioning it only at the bottom of a read-out of the Brussels-Beijing phone call.

“President von der Leyen noted that the upcoming EU-China Summit in July would be a fitting opportunity to commemorate the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations,” it read.

Earlier speculation had centered on a May summit date.

The European Commission’s chief spokesperson Paula Pinho declined to confirm the date but, speaking at a regular briefing, confirmed that July “would be the idea.” POLITICO also requested comment from spokespeople for European Council President António Costa, who would co-host any summit.

Gabriel Gavin contributed to this report.