The context of EU-China relations has dramatically changed over the past years, with frequent ups and downs. Diverging perceptions on and approaches to global and domestic affairs risk undermining the potential for cooperation. At this fraught time, it is crucial to try and minimise any misperceptions and overcome any lack of understanding in the EU-China relationship.
The world after covid and after the Russian invasion of Ukraine is very different from what came before. Shaken by the health crisis and subsequent economic turmoil, with global powers adopting increasingly assertive foreign policies, the EU’s need to foster multilateralism has never been greater – nor more contested. Without the involvement of a central player such as China, it will be challenging to find solutions to global problems, let alone implement them.
To keep the line of dialogue open, the EPC, in cooperation with EGMONT – The Royal Institute for International Relations, the China Institute of International Studies (CIIS) and the Center for China and Globalization (CCG), set up the EU-China think tank exchanges. The project aims to strengthen and stimulate an open and frank conversation between think tanks and research institutes across the EU and China and explore in which areas both parties’ interests are still aligned.
Over a period of three years, the EPC, together with its think tank partners, will encourage experts, analysts and policymakers from Europe and China to discuss issues such as post-COVID-19 cooperation, climate action and environment, global economy, digitalisation, connectivity, human rights and peace and security in international affairs, among many others.
Through a series of structured exchanges between intellectual and strategic thinkers the project seeks to promote the EU-China dialogue and support mutual understanding and joint action in several relevant and cross-cutting policy areas and issues of mutual concern.