A decade-defining shift in Europe–China economic ties lands at the center of Germany’s agenda.

At the 2025 ASEAN Summit, Southeast Asia emerges as the world’s new economic crossroads—where the U.S., China, Canada, and Europe compete for influence, trade, and access to the region’s fast-growing markets.

China is expected to retain control of the global rare-earth supply chain for at least another decade, reinforcing its leverage over industries critical to technology, energy, and defense. As Beijing tightens export rules, Western efforts to diversify remain years behind.