Speech by European Union Ambassador to China Mr Jorge Toledo on the occasion of the Europe Day 2026

Your Excellency, Vice minister Hua Chunying, 

China's Special Envoy for Climate Change Liu Zhenmin, and 

Special Representative of the Chinese Government on Latin American Affairs Qiu Xiaoqi,

Distinguished representatives of the Chinese Government, 

Dear Ambassadors, and representatives of the Diplomatic Corp.

Dear Chinese Guests! 

Dear Fellow Europeans!

Ladies and Gentlemen, 

It is my great honour to welcome you to the European Union Delegation to China to celebrate Europe Day. 

First of all, let me thank our sponsors, who contributed to and supported today’s Europe Day celebration. 

Seventy-six years ago, the Schuman Declaration laid the foundation for what would become the European Union – predominantly a peace project. Its message remains strikingly relevant today. As it stated: “World peace cannot be safeguarded without the making of creative efforts proportionate to the dangers which threaten it.”

Europe was built on a promise: freedom, equality, and democracy. Today, in a world of rising conflicts and economic pressures, we must defend these values, at home and abroad. On Europe Day, we celebrate not just who we are, but what we do, together with Member States and partners worldwide, to protect our way of life and promote a fairer, safer, and more sustainable world.

Unfortunately, the dangers are very real in our time. Across the world, we are witnessing conflicts that challenge the very foundations of international law and undermine global prosperity. 

Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine continues to violate the sovereignty and territorial integrity of a neighbouring state, with devastating human and economic consequences. Its impact extends far beyond Europe – affecting energy security, food supplies, and economic stability worldwide.

As the High Representative stressed recently, the European Union will provide Ukraine what it needs to hold its ground, until Russia understands that this war leads nowhere. Despite our differences, China and the EU have one common ground now: we both (and Ukraine too) are defending an immediate and unconditional ceasefire and the start of real negotiations to ensure a fair and sustainable peace that respects the principles of the UN Charter, namely territorial integrity, sovereignty and non-interference in internal affairs. 

At the same time, tensions and violence in the Middle East, risk further escalation. Other regional flashpoints remind us that peace is fragile, and that the erosion of international norms has global consequences.

These tensions test the very principles upon which the rules-based international order is built. They also remind us that maintaining peace requires sustained commitment, cooperation, and responsibility from all major actors, including the EU and China. 

In an interconnected world, instability anywhere has consequences everywhere. And this leads me to globalisation. China’s integration into the global economy has been one of the key defining moments of our times. 

But the globalisation has been evolving. It is no longer only about efficiency and growth – it must also be about fairness, resilience, and sustainability. This requires openness, but also reciprocity and a level playing field. 

The European Union remains firmly committed to open and rules-based trade. However, our economic relationship with China – while extensive – remains deeply and increasingly unbalanced.

European businesses continue to face significant growing barriers in accessing the Chinese market, as well as challenges related to transparency and equal treatment. Meanwhile, the European market remains one of the most open in the world.

This imbalance is prompting the European Union to take concrete steps to ensure a level playing field. These measures are not aimed at closing markets, but at ensuring that competition is fair, rules are respected, and economic relations are mutually beneficial.

Rebalancing EU-China relations is not about disengagement - it is about sustainability. We are convinced that a more balanced partnership will strengthen trust and create more stable foundations for long-term cooperation between us.

As the Schuman Declaration reads: “Europe will not be made all at once, or according to a single plan. It will be built through concrete achievements which first create a de facto solidarity.” This remains true today, as the EU stays united and clear-sighted in the face of growing threats to our stability and prosperity.

Ladies and Gentlemen, 

Let me be clear, in the EU we are convinced that cooperation with China is not only possible – it is indispensable.

This principle applies equally to our growing global partnerships today.

One of the most important areas where such concrete achievements are both necessary and achievable is the green transition. Climate change is a global challenge that requires global solutions. Nothing effective can be done to fight Climate change without China and the EU. 

The EU’s vision, as outlined recently in the EU’s Foreign Ministers conclusions on Energy and Climate Diplomacy, is to strengthen the EU’s sovereignty while advancing the global clean transition.

This vision is based on several key priorities:

• Europe’s clean energy transition is not just about climate – it is about security, resilience, and independence, reducing reliance on external fossil fuels and strengthening our sovereignty.

• We are placing climate and energy at the heart of our foreign and security policy, recognising climate change as a driver of instability that must be addressed to support global peace and stability.

• The European Union will continue to lead globally by building strong partnerships, supporting clean energy worldwide, and raising ambition to keep the 1.5°C goal within reach.

In all these areas, EU-China cooperation can be a powerful force for progress. 

Ladies and gentlemen,

Europe Day is a reminder that peace, prosperity, and unity are not given – they are built, step by step, through effort, cooperation, and shared purpose.

In today’s complex and uncertain world, this lesson is more important than ever.

The European Union stands ready to engage with China – to address our differences with clarity and respect, and to deepen cooperation where our interests align. Because ultimately, in a world shaped by interdependence, our futures remain closely connected.

Dear friends, 

This is my fourth Europe day as EU Ambassador to China, but I am afraid it is the last one (at least in the near future…), as I will be leaving China and my post as EU ambassador to China this summer. 

I want to use this occasion to, from the bottom of my heart, say how much I have appreciated this wonderful experience, how much I have learnt from this amazing country, from its people and form its ancient culture and civilization which is now blended into one of the most modern and technologically advanced countries in the world. 

Thank you all, government officials, civil society, media representatives, colleagues from the diplomatic corps in China.  And, especially thanks to the wonderful team of the EU Delegation, one of the best teams, both EU officials and local agents I have had the privilege to lead during the last four years. 

Long live Europe! Thank you!