Opportunities and Challenges for EU-China Civil society Collaboration

Abstract

After finally acknowledging their mutual economic interest in each other, the European Union and China are currently discussing a bilateral investment treaty.¹ This treaty could serve either to calm down the conflicts over unfair trading practices taking place between the EU and China, or add more fuel to the flames. Both regions need each other, are dependent on each other, yet it is certainly never easy to adhere to the fine rules of high-level diplomacy. But these economic and political conflicts affect the people of both regions, who are increasingly being drawn into the conflicts. People-to-People dialogues are therefore useful, for they help to build a common ground for mutual help and collaboration.