Officials from China’s Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) and the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) have held high-level meetings with major European automotive industry associations, calling on the sector to play a constructive role in advancing China-Europe cooperation, after the EU recently introduced economic and trade restrictive measures. 

China’s Commerce Minister Wang Wentao met with Hildegard Müller, president of the German Association of the Automotive Industry (VDA), on Monday, with the two sides discussing China-Germany automotive cooperation, the stability of global automotive supply chains, and EU trade restrictions on China, according to a statement released on Tuesday by the MOFCOM.

In a separate meeting on Tuesday, MIIT Vice Minister Xin Guobin met in Beijing with Sigrid de Vries, director general of the European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association (ACEA). The two sides exchanged views on enhancing cooperation in industrial development, technological innovation and supply chain coordination.

The meetings came as industry players on both sides continued to seek deeper cooperation and maintain engagement momentum, despite recent economic and trade restrictive measures introduced by the European Commission (EC).

Wang said that China will continue to expand high-level opening-up and welcomed German automakers to deepen their presence in China, leverage complementary strengths with Chinese partners, and jointly advance the global automotive industry toward higher-end, intelligent and green development.

Referring to the electric vehicle (EV) case between China and the EU, Wang said that the two sides had achieved a “soft landing” earlier this year through a price undertaking arrangement, and expressed hope that the EU side would accelerate negotiations with Chinese companies so that the mechanism could be put into effect as soon as possible.

On recent EU economic and trade restrictions, Wang said that such protectionist measures could increase risks for Chinese enterprises and dampen confidence in investing in Europe. “We hope the VDA will play a constructive role in urging the EU to respect fair competition, abide by WTO rules, and adjust inappropriate measures, so as to foster a fair, just and non-discriminatory business environment for China-Europe cooperation,” Wang said.

Müller said that German automakers will continue to expand investment and research and development in China and accelerate localization. She added that the VDA will continue to call on the EU to keep the vehicle market open, welcome Chinese automakers and parts suppliers to invest in Germany, and further deepen the integration of China-Germany and China-Europe automotive industrial and supply chains.

During Tuesday’s meeting, Xin expressed similar expectations that the ACEA would continue to serve as a bridge, guiding European companies to invest in and deepen their presence in China, while both sides make joint efforts to promote collaborative innovation across the automotive industrial chain.

De Vries said that the association attaches great importance to cooperation with China and will continue to play a constructive role in strengthening strategic alignment and policy coordination to advance cooperation to a higher level.

China and Europe are highly complementary in the automotive sector, with industrial chain cooperation already deeply integrated, and they maintain a mutually beneficial relationship that serves the economic and development interests of both sides, Jian Junbo, director of the Center for China-Europe Relations at Fudan University’s Institute of International Studies, told the Global Times on Tuesday.

China holds advantages in areas such as electronics and artificial intelligence, while Europe retains strengths in traditional automotive design and engineering. The two sides should not view competition through a zero-sum lens, but instead further promote industrial chain integration, Jian said.

As another signal of continued engagement, Wang also met with Ola Källenius, president of the European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association and chairperson of Mercedes-Benz Group, on Thursday, where he said that the proper handling of the EV case has sent a clear signal that China and the EU have both the willingness and the capability to resolve differences through dialogue.

In January, the MOFCOM said that progress had been made in China-EU consultations over the EV case, with both sides agreeing to provide guidance on price undertaking applications for Chinese exporters of battery electric vehicles to the EU.

According to a guidance document issued by the EC, each application will be assessed in an objective and fair manner, following the principle of non-discrimination and in accordance with World Trade Organization rules.

A MOFCOM statement said that the progress reflects the spirit of dialogue and consultation between the two sides, helping advance China-EU economic and trade ties and support a rules-based international trading system.

Cooperation in the automotive and broader manufacturing sectors has remained active. At the ongoing 2026 Beijing Auto Show, the Global Times observed that major international automakers including Mercedes-Benz Group, Audi, BMW and Volkswagen Group were all present.

Oliver Blume, CEO of the Volkswagen Group, who was among business leaders who visited China with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz in February, told the Global Times on Thursday: “We had the opportunities to engage in discussions at different levels, and I could clearly feel the big trust between China and Germany, and we see each other as partners, not only in the past and the present, but especially for the future.”

“The strengths of both countries are complementary, and with the trust that has been built over decades, I believe we will have a successful future together,” Blume added.