Economic and trade relations between China and the European Union are poised for new growth, especially as this year marks the 50th anniversary of their diplomatic ties, an official with China's Ministry of Commerce said in a recent interview with China Media Group.
A delegation from China's Ministry of Commerce visited Sweden, Norway, and Hungary in late March and early April, holding economic and trade commission meetings and exchanges with local government departments.
Wang Yupeng, deputy director of the Ministry's Department of European Affairs, highlighted the positive outcomes of the delegation visit and the importance of continuing to maintain the multilateral trading system centered on the WTO to build an open world economy.
"There are no winners in a trade war, and protectionism has no way out. All parties will uphold free trade and economic globalization, jointly uphold the multilateral trading system with the World Trade Organization at its core, unequivocally oppose unilateralism and protectionism, and promote the building of an open world economy," he said.
China and the EU, as major economies and advocates of multilateralism, should deepen cooperation to add stability to the global economy, said the official.
"In the next step, the Ministry of Commerce will implement the important economic and trade consensus reached by the leaders of China and Europe, make full preparations for the China-EU leaders' meeting, China-EU High-Level Economic and Trade Dialogue and other mechanisms, and continue to use platforms such as the Joint Economic and Trade Commission to enhance economic and trade policy communication with European countries, address key economic and trade concerns, and promote the healthy and stable development of China-EU economic and trade relations," he said.
During the ministry delegation's visits to Sweden and Norway, China also held trade and investment matchmaking meetings with over 200 representatives from local companies, reaching cooperation agreements across multiple industries.
"At the two matchmaking meetings, enterprises from both sides connected across many industries such as intelligent manufacturing, green economy, medical and health care, trade services, mineral energy, agricultural and food products, and reached a series of cooperation agreements," said Wang.
New opportunities abound for China-EU economic, trade relations: official
The sixth edition of Shanghai's iconic "5·5 Shopping Festival" kicked off on Thursday, alongside the 2025 International Consumption Season, in a renewed push to boost domestic demand and revitalize consumer spending.
Co-hosted by the Ministry of Commerce, China Media Group (CMG), and the Shanghai Municipal Government, the event promises a vibrant mix of promotional campaigns, themed events, and immersive retail experiences across the city's commercial districts.
Centering on the theme "Quality Consumption, Demand Creation," the festival targets four key consumer sectors: services, big-ticket purchases, inbound spending, and emerging consumption trends. It also highlights new economic frontiers such as the debut economy, the silver economy, the nighttime economy, and the ticket-based economy—aimed at unlocking consumer potential and enhancing Shanghai's commercial vitality through new product launches, senior-friendly services, dynamic nightlife, and spending on cultural activities.
The festival launch ceremony also included the Fourth International Consumption Center City Forum. In a video address, Marwan Ahmed Bin Ghalita, Acting Director General of Dubai Municipality, expressed hopes for deeper cooperation between Shanghai and Dubai as the two metropolises mark the 25th anniversary of their sister-city relationship. He emphasized their shared vision for urban development and prosperity.
Another highlight of the festival was the debut of the "CMG Select: Shanghai Pavilion." Combining celebrity hosts, culture, art, and premium brands, the pavilion leverages CMG's influential media platform to energize consumer activity and support Shanghai's drive to become a world-class consumption center.
The shopping festival will run through the end of June, with over 1,000 companies and thousands of brands set to launch more than 1,000 special events.
The 2025 International Consumption Season is a flagship event under the "Shop in China" campaign. Jointly launched by the Ministry of Commerce and five other government departments, the initiative will mobilize regions across the country to spotlight premium international and domestic goods. It will feature product debuts, first launches, and consumer-friendly measures to help both domestic shoppers and inbound tourists access high-quality global merchandise and enjoy top-tier services.
Shanghai launches major shopping festival to boost consumer spending
