"China has an influence on Russia, like the European Union has an influence on Ukraine," European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said.

Chinese leader Xi Jinping urged the European Union to make “the right strategic choice” and enhance cooperation with China, while EU leaders called for a rebalancing of trade ties, as the two sides tackle deep-seated grievances at a tense summit in Beijing.

As Chinese President Xi Jinping vowed to deepen ties with the European Union, the bloc's top official raised concerns over a growing trade imbalance, underscoring the strains beneath the diplomatic niceties. Chinese and EU leaders held a meeting Thursday as the 25th EU-China summit got underway.

Leaders at a summit in Beijing split over Ukraine and many trade issues. They came together with small steps on climate change and critical minerals.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen told Chinese leader Xi Jinping that the bloc’s ties with his country “have reached an inflection point,” illustrating what’s at stake in their summit shadowed by tensions spanning trade to the war in Ukraine.