The two sides are marking 50 years of relations this month, holding talks and pledging deeper cooperation.
China and the European Union are marking 50 years of diplomatic relations this month. At the core of their partnership is trade.
They are the second and third biggest economies in the world after the United States.
The Chinese foreign minister is visiting EU headquarters this week as he seeks closer ties in what he has called a “volatile” world.
Under President Donald Trump, the US has increasingly turned to sweeping tariffs to get what it wants.
Although Beijing and Brussels are hoping to improve their economic ties, they have disagreements on a number of issues.
So what will that mean for global trade and the economic order?
Presenter: Adrian Finighan
Guests:
Karel Lannoo – CEO, Centre for European Policy Studies
Victor Gao – vice president, Center for China and Globalisation
Raffaele Marchetti – director, Center for International and Strategic Studies at LUISS University in Rome