The EU and China are comprehensive strategic partners. Each year, the leaders of EU and China meet in the format of the EU-China Summit . The Summit is prepared through a network of bilateral high-level dialogues. These include the EU-China Strategic Dialogue between the EU High Representative/Vice President and the State Councillor and Minister of Foreign Affairs of China.

The European Union and China are two of the biggest trading partners in the world. The EU is committed to open trading relations with China and wants to ensure that China trades fairly, respects intellectual property rights, and meets its obligations as a member of the World Trade Organisation (WTO).

The EU-China Human Rights Dialogue was launched in 1995. Parliament strongly condemned in the past the Chinese government-led system of forced labour – in particular the exploitation of Uyghur, ethnic Kazakh and Kyrgyz, and other Muslim minority groups – in factories within and outside internment camps in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region.

The European Parliament is addressing China's export restrictions, particularly on critical raw materials like rare earths, through policy and legislation. Its approach includes strengthening the EU's internal supply chain with initiatives like the Critical Raw Materials Act, diversifying external sources through strategic partnerships, promoting a circular economy to reduce reliance on new materials.