Leaders from China and the European Union are now meeting at a summit in Beijing to mark 50 years of historic ties. Expectations were low after weeks of escalating tension and wrangling over its format, with the duration abruptly halved to a single day at Beijing's request.

The European Union and China celebrated 50 years of bilateral diplomatic relations at a high-profile summit in Beijing on Thursday. But many contentious issues dampened the festive mood.

As Chinese President Xi Jinping vowed to deepen ties with the European Union, the bloc's top official raised concerns over a growing trade imbalance, underscoring the strains beneath the diplomatic niceties. Chinese and EU leaders held a meeting Thursday as the 25th EU-China summit got underway.