Abstract: With the wide application of dissimilar metal composite structural parts, the welding method between copper and steel is particularly important in engineering application. High energy beam welding has become a hot spot in the field of dissimilar metal welding due to its advantages such as high aspect ratio, accurate and controllable focusing mode and small thermal deformation of weldments. Based on the analysis of the characteristics of copper and steel dissimilar metal welding,the research status of electron beam welding and laser welding of copper/steel dissimilar metals in China and foreign countries was summarized. The problems and solutions in the research were concluded, and the future development trend was prospected.