China Signals Willingness to Work With EU on Global Economic Imbalances
What Happened
China's Finance Minister Lan Foan said on 16 October 2026 that Beijing is ready to deepen dialogue with the European Union on global economic governance and macroeconomic policy coordination during talks in Bangkok with Valdis Dombrovskis, Christine Lagarde and Kyriakos Pierrakakis. China described global imbalances as a complex structural issue influenced by factors including geopolitics and protectionism and called for greater international cooperation. The meeting came a week after China and the EU reached an interim understanding on trade issues, including hybrid vehicle exports.
Key Takeaways
The comments signal an effort by China and the EU to manage growing trade tensions and address economic frictions through dialogue. Both sides have recently reaffirmed their commitment to pursuing a more balanced economic relationship within the framework of World Trade Organization rules.