Breakfast Roundtable: 50 years of EU-China relations

Hosted by the Institute for China-Europe Studies (ICES)

On the morning of July 17, the Institute for China-Europe Studies (ICES) hosted a breakfast roundtable on 50 years of EU-China relations. A small, selected group of colleagues came together for an in-depth discussion on some of today’s most pressing issues in the EU-China relations.

The session opened with remarks from ICES Executive Director Yang Li, followed by reflections on recent developments from Professor Men Jing, who was visiting Brussels during the week. The discussion covered a range of topics, including potential areas of convergence and key points of contention ahead of the summit in Beijing, shifting dynamics in trade and business relations, China’s role in international conflicts, and diplomatic discrepancies impacting bilateral cooperation. The small-scale and closed-door setting allowed for open exchange, interesting debates and candid insights from both Brussels and China.

We sincerely thank all participants for their participation and valuable comments. ICES looks forward to continuing the important conversations at future events and to engaging further with colleagues to discuss the actual outcomes of the upcoming summit.