The Chinese Mission to the EU organized a workshop on China-EU relations on 17 June 2010.  The following recommendations are supported by the Europeans present at the worshop, in the light of the discussions between them and representatives of the Mission, led by HE Song Zhe: Long-term 1. Mutual understanding 2. Jean Monnet methodology 3. 2011 China-EU Youth Year 4. Strategic thinking Short-term 5. Market [...]

The 12th China-EU summit unusually took place, not in Beijing but in Nanjing, on 30 November.  The Chinese delegation was led by Premier Wen Jiabao; the EU by Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt of Sweden, President of the European Council and Commission President, José Manuel Barroso.  Commissioner Ferrero-Waldner also attended.  The atmosphere was overall friendly but [...]

The following paper, written with Dr Kerry Brown Senior Fellow, Asia Programme, Chatham House, has been published as an Asia Programme Paper: ASP PP 2009/03 by the Royal Insitute of International Affairs: The views expressed in this document are the sole responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the view of Chatham House, [...]

After more than two weeks in China, and a third visit in two months, I offer a number of reflections and recommendations, including on developing the so-called “strategic partnership”.  EU-China relationship This is best characterised as: “Europe, we still love you.  We’ll love you even more if you get your act together externally – as [...]

The following are my closing remarks at the 6th China-EU Think Tank Roundtable in Changzhou on 21-22 October 2009: We have had a rich and fruitful discussion facilitated by excellent time discipline.  Underpinning all discussions was the search for mutual understanding and the elimination of misperceptions.  We do not sufficiently trust each other.  Trust comes [...]

During the “Forum on China-EU Partnership” in Beijing on 20 November 2009, sponsored by the Chinese government (see post of 27 November), the European scholars, led by former French Prime Minister Jean-Pierre Raffarin, met Premier Wen Jiabao for an hour-long discussion.  It was significant that the premier devoted this amount of time to us, and [...]

The prime question is: why did Beijing choose to hold such a major event?  The decision was only taken in late September.  There were some 200 delegates and another 100 observers.  The Chinese official line-up was impressive, including Li Keqiang, Li Junru, Dai Binguo, Zhang Zhijun and a separate meeting with Premier Wen Jiabao (see [...]

The following are my concluding remarks at the 6th China-EU Think Tank Roundtable (CIIS-EPC) held in Changzhou, PRC on 21-22 October 2009:   We have had a rich and fruitful discussion facilitated by excellent time discipline.    Underpinning all discussions was the search for mutual understanding and the elimination of misperceptions.  We do not sufficiently [...]