China and EU

Reform and governance are of vital interest to both the People's Republic of China and the European Union (EU). China is facing demographic and environmental challenges and has been experiencing a rapid economic transition. The social tensions arising from these challenges call for a governance system that will allow the Chinese leadership to alleviate social tensions without putting at risk their leadership. A society which is becoming more diverse and facing problems of a global scale that also cause turmoil at the grass roots may be difficult to govern top-down. Notwithstanding the Communist Party of China's (CPC) grip on Chinese society, there may be ways to integrate public opinion and civil society organisations in governmental decision-making through reforms that do not challenge the current leadership.

The EU, on the other hand, faces the same global challenges with a very different and complex governance system. EU foreign and security policy, thus including EU policy towards China, are governed by the EU's foreign policy principles, which contain, among others, the promotion of democracy, the rule of law and the universality and indivisibility of human rights and fundamental freedoms. How successful can the EU be in advancing these principles when engaging with China, while respecting the Chinese political system? How can the EU and China find common grounds in their governance systems so as to enhance their strategic partnership in order to tackle global issues that need a coordinated approach?

Auteur

Jing Men is Bailet Latour Chair of EU-China Relations and Director for EU-China Research Centre, IRD, College of Europe, Bruges.

Annika Linck is Research Assistant to the Bailet Latour Chair of EU-China Relations, IRD, College of Europe, Bruges.

Contenu

Introduction: Reform and Governance in the EU and China (Jing Men and Annika Linck)

Part 1 - GOVERNANCE AND REFORM IN CHINA

Chapter 1: 'Soft Legal Transplants': EU-China Relations at a Glance (Matthieu Burnay)

Chapter 2: The Role of Local Governance for China's Political Stability (Anja Senz)

Chapter 3: 'Good Governance' and the Role of Civil Society Organisations in Reform Processes and EU-China Diplomatic Relations (Joëlle Hivonnet and Kolja Raube)

Chapter 4: Bilateral and Domestic Dimensions in China's Approach to ODI Governance (Duncan Freeman)

Part 2 - THE EU AND CHINA IN GLOBAL AND REGIONAL GOVERNANCE

Chapter 5: China and the EU: Partners or Competitors in Shaping Multilateral and Regional Governance in Asia (Michael Reiterer and Thomas Henökl)

Chapter 6: The EU and China: Partners in Global Economic Governance Reform? (Scott A.W. Brown and Miguel Otero Iglesias)

Chapter 7: The Conundrum of Financial Stability - Central Banks and Currency Management in China, Eurozone and the US? (John Ryan)

Chapter 8: Different Models of Engagement in Africa: A Comparison of the EU's and China's Development Policy (Weifang (Florence) Chen and Yanzhuo Xu)