Xi Jinping calls for Party unity amid EU-China trade tensions

Chinese President Xi Jinping has called for a new ‘Long March’ to achieve national modernization and rebirth. Speaking at the 90th anniversary of the historic Red Army Long March, Xi emphasized the absolute centrality of the Communist Party and the necessity of strong, centralized leadership to navigate internal and international challenges.

This political directive comes ahead of the Communist Party's fifth plenum in Beijing, scheduled for late October, which will focus on strengthening political control and discipline within the organization. Xi highlighted the 1935 Zunyi Conference as a decisive moment for the party's survival, linking historical lessons of unified leadership to the current political structure.

Simultaneously, the European Union is navigating complex trade relations with China. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has signaled a readiness to strengthen commercial defenses to protect European industries, such as chemicals and industrial machinery, from structural trade imbalances. While a recent agreement regarding hybrid car exports was noted as a successful step for dialogue, von der Leyen warned that Europe must be prepared to use trade defense instruments if negotiations fail to address the growing trade deficit.