China and the European Union have seen robust growth in trade and deeper economic cooperation over the past five decades, said Wang Lingjun, deputy director of China's General Administration of Customs (GAC), on Monday.
Trade data shows increasing integration of supply and industrial chains between the two sides. Notably, in the automotive sector, technological strengths are proving complementary.
"Over the past 50 years, the economic and trade cooperation between China and the EU has been complementary, with bilateral trade volume increasing more than 300-fold. In the first half of this year, China's imports and exports to the EU reached 2.82 trillion yuan (about 391.5 billion U.S. dollars), a year-on-year increase of 3.5 percent. On average, daily trade exceeded 15 billion yuan — equivalent to the total annual trade volume at the time diplomatic ties were established. In the first half of the year, the EU accounted for 12.9 percent of China's total foreign trade value, firmly remaining our second-largest trading partner," said Wang.
Wang emphasized that cooperation potential between China and the EU remains high, particularly in connectivity and green development.
"China and the EU have great potential for cooperation in many fields. In connectivity, as of June this year, the number of China-Europe freight train trips has exceeded 110,000, linking 128 cities in China and 229 cities in Europe, building a bridge for China-EU trade. In the field of green development, cooperation between the two sides continues to deepen, with China' exports of wind power generators and high-voltage transformers to the EU maintaining strong growth momentum," he said.
China has always adhered to high-quality development and high-level opening-up. We are willing to work with the EU to expand mutual opening, jointly oppose unilateralism and protectionism, safeguard multilateralism and free trade, bring tangible benefits to enterprises and consumers on both sides, and inject greater stability and certainty into the global economy and trade," Wang said.
China-EU trade thrives as cooperation deepens across key sectors: official
A former television host from Taiwan, Zhai Xuan, has made a pivotal decision to leave mainstream broadcasting in order to create content that provides a better understanding of the Chinese mainland and cross-strait relations.
Zhai, a seasoned television host with over a decade of experience in Taiwan's media landscape, recently addressed an audience at an event in Beijing, where she revealed her complete transition into independent online media.
In her remarks, she articulated her aspiration to bridge what she perceives as a significant information gap between audiences on both sides of the Strait, highlighting her commitment to fostering a deeper understanding and connection through her new endeavors.
"I was really surprised by all the fake news. There were stories saying people on the mainland can't afford tea eggs or that they live in mud houses and in Taiwan, this was the main information many people received," said Zhai.
Zhai said she initially began producing online videos to challenge such perceptions while continuing her work as a television host.
In April 2025, she travelled to the mainland with her father to fulfill her late grandfather's wish to return to his hometown. The trip, which reunited family members separated since 1949, was recorded in a video series titled "Journey to Find Our Roots", drawing attention from viewers in both Taiwan and the mainland.
"Many people in Taiwan told me that after watching, they wanted to apply for a mainland travel permit immediately and go looking for their relatives. Some had long forgotten these things, but after seeing my story, they began thinking about their hometowns and family members they had never met and decided to search for their roots," Zhai shared her story at the event.
By mid-2025, Zhai said she began to feel increasing pressure amid rising political tensions and a tightening atmosphere around cross-Strait exchanges in Taiwan.
After more than 12 years in the industry, Zhai resigned from her position, believing it was the right thing to do.
"At that moment, I felt this was a major issue，not just for me, but for Chinese people on both sides of the Strait. If I backed down then, I wouldn’t be standing on the right side," said Zhai.
Since leaving television, Zhai has broadened her online programming to encompass a range of daily-life topics, including practical guidance on applying for a mainland travel permit and using commonly employed mobile applications, in addition to content that delves into historical memory and cultural connections across the Strait.
As the debate over cross-Strait relations continues in Taiwan, Zhai said she remains committed to her current path.
Former Taiwan TV host bridges cross-Strait divide via online media
