EU-China relations

Podcast

published: 1.12.2023

The upcoming EU-China Summit, with Abigaël Vasselier

The EU-China Summit on December 7-8 in Beijing will see EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President Charles Michel meet Chinese President Xi Jinping, while Premier Li Qiang is expected to chair. It is the first summit in this format held in person in four years. It takes place in a difficult geopolitical environment where China’s relations with the EU as well as the US are marred by thorny issues like the Russian invasion of Ukraine, tensions over Taiwan, and disagreements about market access.

What issues are likely to be on the agenda? What outcomes can we expect? And what is on the table in EU-China relations in 2024? To discuss these questions, Claudia Wessling is joined by Abigaël Vasselier, Director Policy & European Affairs and Head of Program of the MERICS research team on China’s Foreign Relations. In her previous position, Abigaël worked as Deputy Head of Division for China, Hong Kong, Macao, Taiwan and Mongolia at the European External Action Service (EEAS).

 

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About the speakers

Abigaël Vasselier

Director Research China's Foreign Relations (MERICS)

EU-China; Geopolitics; China´s foreign and security policy

Claudia Wessling

Director Communications and Publications at Mercator Institute for China Studies (MERICS)

Sino-German relations; Digitalization and tech development in China; China's Belt & Road Initiative