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 during a tense summit, which is being held in Beijing.

European Council President Antonio Costa and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen met with Xi on Thursday morning and Chinese Premier Li Qiang during the afternoon, China’s state broadcaster CCTV reported.

The European leaders used the meetings to voice their concerns over a host of thorny issues, from the gaping trade imbalance between the two economies to China’s ongoing support for Russia in the Ukraine war, and – more recently – Beijing’s chokehold on the rare earths supply chain.