On November 10, 2025, a delegation from the Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue (HD) visited the Center for International Security and Strategy (CISS) at Tsinghua University to jointly hold the “China-Europe Strategic Dialogue.” Experts and scholars from China and Europe engaged in in-depth discussions on China-Europe relations, economic cooperation, and security issues in the context of the shifting global landscape.
The dialogue was opened by DA Wei, Director of CISS and Professor of the Department of International Relations, and Linda van der Horst, Co-Director of the HD China Program.
The first session focused on the evolution of China-Europe relations amid global dynamics. Participants reviewed current trends in bilateral ties and analyzed how factors such as geopolitics, technological competition, and the Russia-Ukraine conflict are profoundly affecting China-Europe interactions. Experts highlighted that China-Europe relations are entering a critical period of strategic adjustment and emphasized the broad common interests and opportunities for cooperation in addressing global challenges.
Participants then engaged in two thematic breakout discussions:
Opportunities and Challenges: Economy & Trade
Interests and Obstacles: Security & Strategic Engagement
Discussions covered policy coordination, cooperative mechanisms, and priority topics. Subsequent discussions explored core issues including China-Europe economic and trade cooperation, technological competition, the Russia-Ukraine conflict and China-Russia relations, structural adjustments in transatlantic relations, and export control policies.
The dialogue concluded with a session on “Promoting the Forward Development of China-Europe Relations.” Experts generally agreed that despite differences in certain policy areas, there remains considerable room for cooperation in trade, industrial coordination, green transition, technological innovation, and global governance. Scholars emphasized that sustained mutual respect, adherence to principles of equality and mutual benefit, open and pragmatic dialogue, and strengthened strategic communication and policy coordination can help China and Europe find win-win opportunities in a landscape where competition and cooperation coexist, thereby promoting more balanced, resilient, and sustainable bilateral relations.
Participants
From China: DA Wei (Director, CISS), Xiao Qian (Deputy Director, CISS), Chen Xiaogong (Academic Committee Member, CISS), Cui Hongjian (Professor, Institute of Advanced Studies in Regional and Global Governance, BFSU), Wu Dahui (Deputy Director, Institute of Russian Studies, Tsinghua University), Hao Min (Dean, School of Law, School of International Relations), Jin Ling (Director, Institute of Global Governance and International Organizations, CIIS), Zhang Jianping (Deputy Director, Academic Committee, CIIS International Trade & Economic Cooperation Institute), Zhou Mi (Deputy Director, Americas & Oceania Research Division, CIIS International Trade & Economic Cooperation Institute), Gu Dengchen (Director, Policy and Regulation Research Center, Alibaba Research Institute; Visiting Researcher, University of Chinese Academy of Social Sciences), Dong Ting (Associate Researcher, CISS), Sun Chenghao (Associate Researcher, CISS), Song Bo and Shi Yan (Assistant Researchers, CISS), among others.
From Europe and HD: Linda van der Horst (Co-Director, HD China Program), Pierre Vimont (Former Executive Secretary General, European External Action Service), Hans Dietmar Schweisgut (Former Ambassador, EU Delegation to China), Jörg Wuttke (Former President, European Chamber of Commerce in Beijing), Peter Wennink (Former CEO, ASML), Tim Ruhlig (Senior Analyst, EUISS, Asia/Global China), Jakub Jakóbowski (Senior Researcher, Polish Institute of International Affairs), Niu Qiyang (Co-Director, HD China Program), Lü Jinghua (Senior Advisor, HD China Program), among others.