France, July 25 -- An EU-China summit in Beijing wrapped up early on Thursday amid rising tensions, despite efforts to foster cooperation on trade, climate, and global stability.

In a tense summit that blended both diplomacy and frank discussion, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen made it clear on Thursday that China's close ties with Russia are now the central factor shaping EU-China relations.

The meeting, held in Beijing and nominally celebrating 50 years of the country's diplomatic ties with the EU, saw leaders from both sides striving to strike a delicate balance between deepening cooperation and addressing major concerns.

Despite a long list of disagreements - from trade imbalances to human rights and geopolitical...