Events

Trade and Globalisation

Public debate: Political values in Europe-China relations
06 Dec 2018 16:00 - 17:45
Bron: Meeting between Federica Mogherini and Chinese FA Minister Wang Yi during G20 / EEAS/flickr
Inleiding

This was a public event organised by the Royal Institute for International Relations 'Egmont'. 

Political values have long informed the ways in which many European states and the EU itself approach China. But the way in which these values – in particular democracy, human rights and the rule of law – have been promoted, and even at times defined, differs greatly across the continent and has shifted over time. For many across Europe, hopes that a deepening “constructive engagement” with China would ultimately lead to political reform and liberalization within the Chinese political system have been dashed by Beijing’s recent authoritarian turn. As China’s influence continues to grow across the globe, some have even looked to China for inspiration or support in their own shifts toward more authoritarian rule. Europe is not immune to these changes. Within this context, the members of the European Think-tank Network on China (ETNC) have assembled analysis from China experts in 17 European countries in a major new report analysing the role that political values play in Europe-China relations today. This event presented and discussed the findings of this report for the first time to the public.

Guest speakers were Björn Jerdén (Head of Asia Programme/the Swedish Institute of International Affairs UI), Frans-Paul van der Putten (the Clingendael Institute), Tim Rühlig (Analyst/the Swedish Institute for International Affairs UI), John Seaman (Research Fellow/Center for Asian Studies/Ifri) & Bruno Hellendorff (Joint Research Fellow Egmont Institute-EPC).

The event was moderated by Sven Biscop (Egmont Institute).