EU-China Forum : Rivals or strategic partners?

China and the European Union matter more and more to each other. EU-China trade, economic and business relations are booming. Cooperation between Europe and China is crucial in dealing with global challenges like climate change, food and energy security, nuclear proliferation and regional hotspots. Meanwhile, China’s moves to buy Eurozone debt and statements of confidence in the European single currency are a boon to the embattled leaders of the Eurozone. These and other links that bind, however, are often obscured by discord and disagreement on questions like human rights, market access and China’s investment and intellectual property regimes. Both the EU and China say they are strategic partners but often their relations are marked by rivalry and competition, especially for rare resources. China is also building up a strong global footprint and is a leading member of the G20. What is China’s contribution to global growth strategies? How useful are regular high-level economic discussions in resolving the many irritants that continue to bedevil EU-China ties? Which are the areas where Europe and China can work together to build stronger relations in the political and economic sectors? Will China’s new leaders, appointed in 2012, have a changed attitude towards Europe?

Europe’s 2020 growth agenda and China’s 12th Five Year Plan open up fresh opportunities for China-Europe cooperation in areas such as the green economy, urbanisation, environmental protection, scientific innovation and technology-intensive industries. Both China and Europe also have to tackle the challenge of dealing with ageing populations, the growth of mega-cities and building an inclusive society. European and Chinese companies are still not working together as actively as they could to tackle these and other challenges. As China now shifts the focus from exports to domestic-demand- led growth, European firms are anxious to gain better market access while European banks and insurance companies are keen to extend their market share as China switches emphasis from manufacturing to the services sector. What are the main market access difficulties facing European companies in China and what is the welcome that Europe extends to Chinese firms? Are China’s “indigenous innovation” initiatives a brake on the transfer of European technology to China? Is China relaxing its government procurement rules? Can Europe provide its experience and expertise as China seeks to develop its anti-monopoly law?

Relations between policymakers and officials are important in determining the style and substance of Europe-China relations but 21st Century foreign policy is increasingly influenced by public opinion. In Europe, as illustrated by recent polls conducted by the Pew Research Center, the BBC and the German Marshall Fund, public perceptions of China have been declining over the past five years. China’s recent crackdown on dissidents has worsened European views on human rights, democracy and the rule of law in China. The wider Chinese public, meanwhile, is increasingly irritated by European public statements and demands on human rights. Can the recent EU-China focus on people-to-people exchanges, especially among young people, help to forge better understanding between the two sides? What can be done to improve communication between civil society representatives in China and Europe?