The China-EU tech cooperation is expanding beyond trade to encompass joint research and development in frontier areas, fueled by a growing resilience and vitality that benefit the whole world.
According to Eurostat, the EU's high-tech imports totaled 478 billion euros in 2023, of which imports from China reached 155 billion euros, accounting for approximately one third of the total. Between 2013 and 2023, imports of high-tech products from China to the EU doubled in value.
China’s innovation capabilities continue to grow steadily. In 2024, Chinese companies and researchers filed a new record of 20,081 patent applications with the European Patent Office, a 0.5-percent increase from 2023, maintaining growth among the world's major patent-filing countries.
Lithium battery manufacturing has also become the model of Sino-European tech cooperation. CATL, China's leading lithium battery manufacturer, has operated its German plant for two years, with its Hungary factory set for operations in 2025. By the end of 2026, its Spanish joint venture is also expected to begin production.
In smart manufacturing and telecommunications, Chinese firms have collaborated closely with EU partners.
Alibaba, China's e-commerce and tech powerhouse, is advancing industrial internet platforms in Germany. Huawei, China's leading telecommunications giant, has established a 6G research center in Belgium to develop next-generation networks. In autonomous driving, Baidu, China's AI and tech company, has its Apollo program being tested in Germany and France.
The expanding cooperation reflects a joint commitment by China and the EU to innovation, paving the way for a prosperous future together.
China-EU tech cooperation in frontier areas benefits whole world
