China, EU Discuss ‘Level Playing Field’ on Trade, EU’s Sefcovic Says

Maros Sefcovic, the nominee to become the European Union's trade and economic commissioner, holds a press conference after hearings, in Brussels, Belgium November 4, 2024. (Reuters)
Maros Sefcovic, the nominee to become the European Union's trade and economic commissioner, holds a press conference after hearings, in Brussels, Belgium November 4, 2024. (Reuters)
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China, EU Discuss ‘Level Playing Field’ on Trade, EU’s Sefcovic Says

Maros Sefcovic, the nominee to become the European Union's trade and economic commissioner, holds a press conference after hearings, in Brussels, Belgium November 4, 2024. (Reuters)
Maros Sefcovic, the nominee to become the European Union's trade and economic commissioner, holds a press conference after hearings, in Brussels, Belgium November 4, 2024. (Reuters)

Chinese Commerce Minister Wang Wentao met visiting European Trade and Economic Security Commissioner Maros Sefcovic for a discussion that Sefcovic said on Saturday included a "level playing field" on trade.

China's commerce ministry described the Friday meeting as a frank and pragmatic exchange of views.

Sefcovic posted on X that it was necessary to ensure the EU-China "relationship is based on a level playing field, in terms of trade flows as well as investment, with symmetrical markets opening".

The Slovak commissioner also met with China's economy tsar on Friday during his first trip to Beijing since being confirmed late last year.

Top officials in Beijing and Europe are looking for common ground despite long-running trade disputes as the US administration of President Donald Trump threatens to upend transatlantic ties and global trade.



Bitcoin Jumps to Record on Institutional Investor Demand

FILE PHOTO: A bitcoin symbol is displayed on a screen before US Vice President JD Vance speaks at a Bitcoin conference in Las Vegas, Nevada, US, May 28, 2025.   REUTERS/Steve Marcus/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: A bitcoin symbol is displayed on a screen before US Vice President JD Vance speaks at a Bitcoin conference in Las Vegas, Nevada, US, May 28, 2025. REUTERS/Steve Marcus/File Photo
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Bitcoin Jumps to Record on Institutional Investor Demand

FILE PHOTO: A bitcoin symbol is displayed on a screen before US Vice President JD Vance speaks at a Bitcoin conference in Las Vegas, Nevada, US, May 28, 2025.   REUTERS/Steve Marcus/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: A bitcoin symbol is displayed on a screen before US Vice President JD Vance speaks at a Bitcoin conference in Las Vegas, Nevada, US, May 28, 2025. REUTERS/Steve Marcus/File Photo

Bitcoin rallied to an all-time high on Friday, powered by demand from institutional investors and crypto-friendly policies from US President Donald Trump's administration.
The world's largest cryptocurrency rose to a peak of $116,781.10 in the Asian session on Friday, taking its gains for the year so far to more than 24%. It was last trading at $116,563.11, Reuters said.
"Bitcoin's new all-time high is being driven by relentless institutional accumulation - major players are scooping up supply and drying up liquidity on exchanges," said Joshua Chu, co-chair of the Hong Kong Web3 Association.
In March, Trump signed an executive order to establish a strategic reserve of cryptocurrencies. He has also appointed several crypto-friendly individuals, including Securities and Exchange Commission Chair Paul Atkins and White House artificial intelligence czar David Sacks.
Trump's family businesses have also made forays into cryptocurrencies. Trump Media & Technology Group is looking to launch an exchange-traded fund to invest in multiple crypto tokens including Bitcoin, an SEC filing on Tuesday showed.
Ether, the world's second-largest cryptocurrency, similarly jumped nearly 5% to $2,956.82, after earlier hitting a five-month high of $2,998.41.