Xi calls for improved economic cooperation with EU - NHKニュース

China has not seen eye to eye with Europe recently on trade. But President Xi Jinping wants that to change. He told German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier that the two sides should "work in the same direction."

Xi and Steinmeier met on Friday in Beijing. Xi said he hopes China and the European Union help to advance economic globalization. A Chinese foreign ministry statement about the talks says, "The essence of China-EU trade and economic relations lies in complementarity and mutual benefit."

The ministry says Xi expects Germany to provide a fair and nondiscriminatory business environment for Chinese companies, and to strengthen bilateral cooperation in areas such as artificial intelligence.

The EU has a massive trade deficit with China. The bloc has also been critical about an influx of cheap goods from the country.

The EU plans to introduce a provisional measure in December that would significantly reduce imports of Chinese vehicles.

The German DPA news agency says Steinmeier urged China to reduce its trade deficit with Germany. He also reportedly called for building mutually beneficial economic relations.