Brussels, 24 July 2025: At the 25th EU-China Summit held in Beijing on 24 July 2025, the European Union reiterated its deep concerns about the human rights situation in Tibet. The Summit, which marked the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the EU and China, saw the participation of senior leaders including EU Council President Antonio Costa, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and China’s President Xi Jinping. The EU High Representative, Kaja Kallas, was also present.
In discussions covering a broad range of bilateral and global issues, the EU highlighted Tibet in the context of ongoing concerns about treatment of human rights defenders and restrictions on fundamental freedoms.
The Summit followed the 40th session of the EU-China Human Rights Dialogue held in Brussels in June 2025, where the EU reiterated its concerns over China’s interference in the selection of religious leaders, including the succession of His Holiness the Dalai Lama stressing that it should happen in accordance with religious norms. Numerous Tibetan voices featured prominently in the EU’s list of individual cases of concern.
Despite diplomatic tensions, the summit reaffirmed that human rights in Tibet remain a persistent flashpoint.
Representative Rigzin Genkhang of the Office of Tibet Brussels welcomed the Summit’s focus on Tibet but stressed that specific benchmarks is crucial for future progress.
-Report filed by Office of Tibet, Brussels
