China's ambassador to the European Union, Cai Run, has called for greater consensus and cooperation between the two.

The comments, made at an annual Europe-China Forum in Brussels hosted by the think tank Friends of Europe, come amid deepening trade tensions between the major trading partners. 

The Dutch government's decision to take over the Chinese-owned chip maker Nexperia due to concerns over the supply of rare earths has further soured relations in recent weeks. 

Both the EU and China say they are committed to dialogue but members of the China Chamber of Commerce to the EU (CCCEU) says the episode has had a chilling effect on its members. 

It brings a very negative impact, not only on the business environment in the Netherlands but for the EU as a whole, said Linlin Liang, Director of Communication and Research, China Chamber of Commerce to the European Union, speaking at the Europe-China Forum.  

On Wednesday the CCCEU and global management consultancy Roland Berger released a report stating that 81 percent of Chinese enterprises operating in Europe are facing rising unpredictability due to the business environment.

The European Union should do something to ease the burden for the Chinese companies and also for other companies to have more leeway to operate in the EU market, said Fang Dongkui, Secretary General of the CCCEU, in an interview with CGTN.

The annual Europe-China Forum provides a platform to discuss these frictions. EU officials have called for a level playing field, especially when it comes to export controls, intellectual property protection and technology transfers.

Our overall line continues to be a nuanced one, openness will be preserved wherever possible and limitations will be inserted where necessary, said Signe Ratso, Deputy Director-General at the European Commission's Directorate-General for Research and Innovation speaking at Thursday's event in Brussels.

Beijing has warned against the EU's perceived use of protectionist policies that the bloc says are needed to safeguard European industry. 

European finance ministers on Thursday discussed plans to remove a duty exemption for low-value goods, a move seen as a bid to counter the import of Chinese goods sold on e-commerce platforms like Temu and Shien.

This is a key step to better manage the surge in small packages, particularly from China. We ensure fair competition, stronger enforcement, and better consumer protection across the EU, said European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen in a social media post. 

The Commission says it's a bid to protect the competitiveness of European businesses but critics say it's consumers that will pay the price.  

We urge the Commission to reconsider the cost on the consumers and see if there are other ways, more rational ways, to deal with and balance all kinds of considerations, said Linlin Liang speaking to CGTN at the Europe-China Forum.