Foreign Policy Dialogues “China, the European Union, and the Global South: China’s presence in the Global South and the challenges for the European External Action”

Researchers, experts and government representatives will participate in this Foreign Policy Dialogue to contribute to the political dialogue on the EU-China relationship and its ramifications in the Global South during a geopolitical context marked by rivalry, competition and the need for cooperation in the face of global challenges.

2024

March

10:00h

Location:

CIDOB, sala Jordi Maragall, Elisabets 12, 08001 Barcelona

Organized by:

CIDOB with the support of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation

China's rapid development and growth since the 1978 Reform and Opening up policy have transformed the Asian country into a global power, with a presence and interests all over the world. Under the leadership of President Xi Jinping, China aspires to develop a new international role as a great power, contesting the current US-led order at a time when its material conditions seem to correspond to a greater capacity to promote changes that are favourable to its interests. In this growing geopolitical competition between the two countries and a deepening distancing from Europe, China is looking south.

Specifically, this dialogue aims to discuss two key topics: first, to assess China's growing presence in the Mediterranean, Latin America and the Indo-Pacific and the challenges it poses for the European Union; and, second, how this presence complements or counters the interests of the EU in these regions to identify effective proposals and responses for the EU's interests and external action. Researchers, experts and government representatives will participate in this seminar to contribute to the political dialogue on the EU-China relationship and its ramifications in the Global South during a geopolitical context marked by rivalry, competition and the need for cooperation in the face of global challenges.

During the seminar, the participants will tackle China's current economic situation and the main diplomatic and geo-economic elements that China uses in its relations with the Global South through a regional approach, in line with the methodological approach adopted in the report on China's presence in the Global South recently published by CIDOB. Finally, the last panel will discuss the implications and responses adopted (or that could be adopted) by the EU.