FILE: Beijing, China - Date Unknown (CCTV - No access Chinese mainland)
1. Aerial shots of Tian'anmen Rostrum, Chinese national flag, ornamental column

FILE: Beijing, China - Date Unknown (CCTV - No access Chinese mainland)
2. Various of Chinese Ministry of Commerce office building, signs, entrance

FILE: Brussels, Belgium - Date Unknown (CCTV - No access Chinese mainland)
3. Various of European Union flags, Berlaymont building

FILE: Budapest, Hungary - June 28, 2024 (CCTV - No access Chinese mainland)
4. Various of vehicles being charged, sign reading "plug-in hybrid"

FILE: Shandong Province, east China - 2026 (CCTV - No access Chinese mainland)
5. Aerial shots of vehicles for export, vessels at port

Chongqing Municipality, southwest China - Recent (CCTV - No access Chinese mainland)
6. Various of chips production line; workers operating machine

FILE: Xiamen City, Fujian Province, east China - 2023 (CCTV - No access Chinese mainland)
7. Various of robotic arms operating on production lines

FILE: China - Date Unknown (CCTV - No access Chinese mainland)
8. Various of containers of China-Europe Express being handled by cranes
9. Aerial shot of freight train running

FILE: Xiamen City, Fujian Province, east China - Date Unknown (CCTV - No access Chinese mainland)
10. Aerial shots of containers, cranes, vessels at port

European Commissioner for Trade and Economic Security Maros Sefcovic headed to China on Wednesday for talks considered critical to the future of the bilateral relationship.

Sefcovic is scheduled to meet with Chinese Commerce Minister Wang Wentao in Beijing to address differences in bilateral trade and investment.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said the EU is engaged in a dialogue with China to rebalance the trade.

With the European Union (EU) importing more from China than exporting to the latter, Brussels complains China is undercutting key European industries, for instance, competitively priced Chinese electric vehicles have gained popularity in Europe. China denies these allegations.

The European Union is also pressing China to lift its export limits on minerals and metals critical to make the chips that drive AI technology -- a sector where Brussels is lagging.

"We need to urgently procure and build up reserves. It will help us obtain and stockpile what we need for electric cars, for chips and batteries, for clean tech and defense, and so much more," Von der Leyen said.

Europe's trade commissioner is hoping this week's talks in China will lead to a deal that he can present to the European Council.