Recently, Europe has been trying to redefine its economic relationship with China by taking a sterner approach towards its counterpart’s distorted market practice. In the process, China has softened its position out of necessity.

With the United States not offering the political and economic support Europe needs to offset China’s influence, leaders like Macron and Merkel face the challenge of retaining the multilateral global order today, while also engaging China on key economic and global issues.

In Europe’s biggest capitals, there has been significant skepticism about the Belt and Road Initiative and the Chinese government’s development strategy. As Beijing seeks to push through its 16+1 economic plan, friction with Brussels will continue to mount.

U.S. says the Chinese telecom company’s equipment is a security risk.

Unlike the US, the EU does not perceive China as a “strategic” rival, but a “systemic” one. While China’s lack of economic and political liberalization poses a direct threat to EU’s interests and values, common ground can still be reached.

Cracks are appearing in the European Union’s position on China. While much of Europe has developed a new, Trumpian-style position on China, the populist coalition in Rome is opening its arms to China and the Belt and Road Initiative.

The European Council has issued a new definition of China: from the EU perspective, China is simultaneously a political and economic challenger and a partner in multilateral global governance. Through established forums like the G20 and UN, along with new iniatitives like the Belt and Road or the “16+1” format, China and Europe can build on their trade partnership to face common challenges like climate change.

Move comes in spite of European Commission’s branding of China as ‘systemic rival’.

Europe clinches new vows from China on technology transfer, state subsidies as Beijing-Washington talks continue.

Premier Li Keqiang leaves today for Brussels on a trip to cement ties with Europe.