China’s MOFCOM: China-EU Trade and Investment Mechanism to Hold 1-2 Ministerial Meetings a Year

China’s Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) said China and the European Union have set up a new regular trade and investment consultation mechanism and agreed to hold one to two ministerial-level meetings each year, according to 36Kr. At a regular press briefing on July 2, MOFCOM spokesperson He Yadong said China has invited European Commission Commissioner for Trade and Economic Security Maroš Šefčovič to visit China in the fall of 2026 for the mechanism’s second meeting. He said the first meeting focused on promoting “upward” rather than “downward” trade balance through cooperation in emerging areas such as AI and the green transition, deeper exploration of potential cooperation including services trade, and addressing issues via market-access consultations. He added that both sides reached a consensus on a new positioning for China-EU economic ties as stable and balanced key trade partners.