On 17 December, the EU Delegation hosted the closing event of the second phase of the EU-China Aviation Partnership Project. EU Ambassador to China, Jorge Toledo, noted that the EU and China share a long history of cooperation in aviation. Sustainable aviation should be high on our agenda. In this field, it is our mutual interest to cooperate at international level. More information about this event: Press Release: EU and China close aviation partnership project

On 21 November, the EU Delegation to China opened the door to the now yearly recurring Model EU-China Summit in collaboration with Tsinghua University, providing students with an insightful opportunity to experience EU-China relations firsthand. The event underscored the great importance of dialogue in enhancing mutual understanding and improving cooperation between the parties. EU Ambassador Jorge Toledo welcomed the participants, stressing the importance of such exchanges in shaping the future of EU-China ties, which now lies in a very delicate stage. The students, role-playing as EU and Chinese leaders, engaged in intensive and heated negotiations on key issues, including trade, climate change, and human rights. Their discussions ended with a mock press conference, where students acting as journalists posed challenging questions, testing the leaders’ knowledge and capabilities.

On 22 October 2024, the Delegation of the European Union to China opened its doors to a group of students, including fellows of the German Academic Exchange Service DAAD program and students from the "Language and Practice" programme of Beijing Foreign Studies University. The EU Ambassador to China Jorge Toledo welcomed the students and outlined the mission and role of the EU Delegation in the context of diplomatic relations between the EU and China. Representatives of different sections of the Delegation provided the students with an analysis of the EU-China relations on political, trade, green transition and development matters. During this event, students had the opportunity to raise questions and deepen their understanding of current affairs.

On 21 October 2024, EU Ambassador to China Jorge Toledo attended the Financial Street Forum, Global Fin-tech Conference 2024 in Beijing. He spoke at the parallel session “International Green Development Forum” (see full speech), providing an overview of cooperation between the EU and China on green finance and encouraging stronger international cooperation to accelerate global green transition. Global warming, biodiversity loss, and environmental degradation are challenges that demand immediate and coordinated action across sectors and borders. The Common Ground Taxonomy, developed in collaboration between the EU and China, represents a shared understanding of what constitutes sustainable economic activities and lays the foundation for greater alignment between our financial systems. We must create actionable frameworks that can guide the future of green finance.

Between 13 and 15 June, the Heads of Missions of the EU Delegation and EU Members States in China traveled to Chengdu, Sichuan province, for a working retreat and meetings with provincial and city authorities. The three-day trip included meetings with the Governor of Sichuan Mr Huang Qiang, the Secretary of the Communist Party of China in Chengdu Mrs Shi Xiaolin, the Mayor of Chengdu, Mr Wang Fengchao, as well as with the European Union Chamber of Commerce in China and European businesses operating in Sichuan province. EU Heads of Mission were invited to visit the Chengdu Urban Planning Exhibition Center, Aerofugia and Airbus industrial facilities as wells as the Business and Innovation Centre of China-Europe Cooperation (CCEC).

On 8 March 2024, the EU Ambassador to China Jorge Toledo was honoured to join the “Symposium on Financing for a Gender-Equal Future”, hosted by UN Women China, the Center for China and Globalization and China's Global Development Promotion Centre of CIDCA. The EU champions gender equality within and outside our borders. By 2025, 85% of our new projects will contribute to gender equality & women's empowerment.

The first steering committee meeting of the second phase of the “Improving China’s institutional capacity towards universal social protection” support programme took place on 18 January 2024 in Beijing. Before the meeting, the EU Ambassador to China Jorge Toledo met with the Vice Minister of MoHRSS Li Zhong, in the presence of the International Labour Organisation (ILO) Director Changhee Lee. Ambassador Toledo and Minister Li discussed recent developments in social protection reforms in the EU and China. The steering committee meeting had the participation of the European Union, through the Directorate General of Employment, Social affairs and Inclusion of the European Commission and the EU Delegation to China, the ILO Office in Beijing and China’s Ministry of Human Resources and Social Protection (MoHRSS). During this meeting, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed between the ILO-Office in Beijing and the MoHRSS to commit to the implementation of the activities. The programme reflects the excellent cooperation of the EU and China in employment and social matters. All parties are fully engaged to facilitate the implementation of the activities to make the programme a real success. The programme “Improving China’s institutional capacity towards universal social protection” aims to share experiences and improve social protection in all its dimensions in China and in Europe to adapt to the rapid and profound transformations of the labour market. It will also provide a valuable platform to enhance the quality of the debate on social protection matters. More information on the program: https://www.ilo.org/beijing/what-we-do/projects/WCMS_873353/lang--en/index.htm

On 21 November, the EU Delegation to China hosted an exercise with students from Tsinghua University to give them the opportunity of learning about the EU-China Summit. Promoting exchanges is essential to improve mutual understanding and unlock the potential of EU-China relations. EU Ambassador Jorge Toledo was glad to welcome this very enthusiastic group of students and opened the event encouraging fruitful negotiations. While participating in a model EU-China Summit, the students acted as EU and Chinese leaders and carried out negotiations on bilateral relations and climate change cooperation. The model meeting between leaders was followed by a press conference.