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Brussels, March 15th, 2024 His Excellency Erik Solheim, Co-Chair of the Europe-Asia Center, engaged in fruitful discussions with His Excellency Ambassador Liu Zhenmin, China’s newly appointed Special Envoy for Climate Change, during his recent visit to China, marking a significant moment in international climate diplomacy. The meeting, held in Beijing, provided a platform to address pressing climate-related issues and to foster dialogue on the future of EU-China climate cooperation. Mr. Solheim extended warm congratulations to his long-time colleague Mr. Liu on his new role, expressing confidence in China’s climate diplomacy under his leadership. Shared concerns regarding the pace of progress towards fulfilling the Paris Agreement were discussed, with both parties reaffirming their commitment to achieving tangible results in line with the Agreement and the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Discussions spanned a range of topics, including the climate roadmap towards the upcoming Baku conference, China’s leadership in green energy, and the transformative potential of hydropower and hydrogen in conjunction with solar and wind energy solutions. Mr. Solheim’s steadfast advocacy for multi-stakeholder engagement and the strong involvement of the private sector and civil society in the global struggle against climate change was not only discussed but demonstrated in practice, with the active participation of Europe – Asia Center’s Secretary General Rui Yan and delegations from the International Hydropower Association and Green Hydrogen Organization. The high-level dialogue underscores the paramount importance of nurturing diplomatic and societal ties between the EU and China, reflecting a shared commitment to fostering resilient and mutually beneficial partnerships – in the field of climate change and beyond. For press enquiries: Matic Gajšek, Director for Europe, Europe – Asia Center E-mail: m.gajsek(at)europe-asia.org

Brussels, March 18th, 2024 In a landmark development, the Europe-Asia Center and Pangoal, one of China’s leading think-tanks, have officially announced a strategic partnership aimed at fostering closer collaboration between the European and Asian communities. The partnership agreement was formalized at a ceremony in Beijing, marking the beginning of an exciting journey towards enhanced cooperation and mutual growth. With a shared vision of bolstering relationships between Europe and Asia, the partnership between the Europe-Asia Center and Pangoal seeks to facilitate deeper understanding and engagement across various sectors. Through this collaboration, both entities aspire to empower Asian businesses with comprehensive insights into the European market while assisting European enterprises in navigating the complexities of the Chinese market landscape. “We are delighted to embark on this transformative partnership with Pangoal,” remarked Erik Solheim, Co-Chair at the Europe-Asia Center and signatory of the strategic partnership. “Our joint efforts will not only promote economic exchange but also facilitate dialogues on critical political issues, fostering mutual understanding and cooperation between our regions.” Pangoal, under the leadership of Yi Peng, is recognized as a leading Beijing-based think tank renowned for its comprehensive research and initiatives addressing key global challenges. With a focus on areas such as green development, artificial intelligence, ageing society, and conflict resolution, Pangoal’s expertise is poised to enrich the partnership’s scope and impact. The partnership between the Europe-Asia Center and Pangoal signifies a commitment to fostering inclusive dialogue and collaboration between Europe and Asia. By leveraging their respective strengths and networks, both organizations aim to inspire connections across cultural, artistic, sporting, historical, and heritage domains, enriching the fabric of intercontinental relations. For press enquiries: Matic Gajšek, Director for Europe, Europe – Asia Center E-mail: m.gajsek(at)europe-asia.org

Brussels, 25th October 2022 – Digital Markets Act (DMA) and Digital Services Act (DSA)- Opportunities and challenges for EU-China relations: high-level dialogue with European Parliament’s member and lead rapporteur dr. Andreas Schwab (Germany) and dr. Wang Huiyao, President of China Center for Globalization (China) The Digital Markets Act (DMA) and the Digital Services Act (DSA) marked a substantial legislative step of digital governance of the European Union. Regulations, which will in current framework mainly target business practices of the U.S. tech giants, created legitimate concern for European policy makers on the future of the EU digital markets, as Chinese digital technology firms could be left alone to grow. While DMA lacks consideration of the future state of Chinese digital technology firms in the EU, the DSA offers elements of policy overlap with Chinese measures in establishing accountability mechanism for digital platforms. Question arises on what opportunities and future challenges DMA and DSA can bring to the EU-China relations. In the opening address, the Chairman of Europe-Asia Center, Amb. (ret.) Piet Steel highlighted: “the DMA and DSA are two landmark legislative steps in Europe’s strive for strategic autonomy, less external dependence and mitigating vulnerabilities.” However, with ongoing geopolitical and trade tensions, one of the landmark trade negotiations of the Comprehensive trade agreement between the EU and China, remains halted. Despite of the challenges, he addressed the need for structured, bilateral or multilateral dialogue in the area of internet governance and leveraging of technology as an enabler for global growth and peace. In his keynote address Dr. Andreas Schwab, member of the European Parliament, People’s Party (EPP) for Germans Christian Democratic Union Party (CDU) and lead rapporteur on DMA/ DSA, highlighted the objective of DMA is to «ensure contestability of 10 specific digital markets such as browsers, operating systems and messaging services». Regulation is therefore focused on the tech giants fulfilling the gatekeeper’s requirements. As for DSA, emphasis is on illegal content and deals with the proliferation of illegal services and the verification of information on digital platforms. However, “the DSA does not define what is illegal (…), making it an issue of alignment with the Criminal law of 27 EU members states.” He highlighted that “both DMA and DSA present laws that tackle internal market legislation and affect all companies (…), and are therefore not discriminatory.” The geopolitical competition between EU, China and the US may lead to tensions in the process of applying the laws. In response to possible tensions, the EU has set up the Trade and technology Council, which will mediate in such circumstances among the key stakeholders. He concluded: “EU wants digital governance to be democratic and as business-oriented as possible…There is space for cooperation, which is not exclusively limited to mutual learning, but also on how online regulation is operating and internet governance can be successfully implemented.” Dr. Henry Huiyao Wang, founder and president of China Center for Globalization (CCG), shared his keynote address highlighting: “Digital economy accounts for 40% of China’s total GDP, so we are at a crucial time to put forward a global acceptable operating standards and regulations…In this aspect, DMA and DSA are setting high standards for all parties.” He emphasized the enormous business cooperation potential between EU and China. “China and EU included the topics of Digital governance on the High-level Environment and Climate Dialogue. What can be anticipated after the 20th National Congress of the Chinese Communist Party is a greater focus on the economy.” He suggested China and EU could make a step forward and already in November 2023 simultaneously announce to abandon mutual sanctions, thus facilitating the business communities on both sides. He concluded with emphasis on “China needing international exchanges on digital regulations.” EU on the other hand has the advanced legislative process, which China could really learn from. “I would like to see more corporations in that area.” In the expert roundtable session, Dr. Sebastian Hallensleben, Chair of CEN-CENELEC JTC 21, expert advisory board of EU Stand ICT and co-chair of OECD ONE.AI group, shared his opinion on how do DMA and DSA and possibly upcoming AI Act deal with jurisdiction issues. “We still lack the understanding of how does jurisdiction in the physical geographic space maps to the digital space. In the rounds of applicability of the DMA and DSA we are talking about the reach of content blocking.” He argued that China has directly mapped its political geographic sovereignty to the digital space, while EU and the US are not keen on following such path. An approach to resolve the gap could be numerous cases in spectrum use, maritime law or tax system, where overlapping jurisdiction challenges are addressed in multiple ways. Enlightened by standardizing AI ethics, he suggested the issue of acceptability to be tackled on national levels rather than global, due to (limited) eligibility of global standardization. Ms. Mireia Paulo, Head of Management of the Centre for EU-Asia Connectivity (CEAC) and Lecturer/Research Associate at Ruhr-Universität Bochum stated that even though Chinese big tech companies would eventually be identified as gatekeeper, she does not want to exaggerate the impact implications. She supported the reasoning with firstly, “similar tendency for regulating big tech and large online companies in China”. Similar to DMA, China’s Anti-Monopoly Law focuses on competitiveness of digital market, and DSA also offers elements of policy overlap with Chinese online safety regulation. Secondly, “Chinese tech companies are getting used to constant change of domestic regulation and foreign market regulation is within their expectation.” And lastly, as in example of ByteDance “Chinese platforms often have the separate versions for domestic and global markets, (…) making compliance with new EU regulations slightly easier for Chinese stakeholders.” Dr. Maria Adele Carrai, Assistant Professor of Global China Studies at NYU Shanghai, highlighted the potential DMA provides to the Chinese companies such as Alibaba, Tencent and Baidu with expansion of their EU presence. Nevertheless, “EU still has discretionary the power to investigate companies that do not meet criterial set for the formal definition of gatekeeper. In such way, Chinese companies will be forced to open up in the same way as US companies.” She noted that although current DMA has not given clear consideration on the future of Chinese. She noted that although current DMA has not given clear consideration on the future of Chinese tech firms in European markets, “political consideration, Trans-Atlantic ties, shared democratic and market values, are likely to influence Europe to take further steps in regulating or possibly limiting the expansion of Chinese digital technologies in Europe.” Lastly, she expressed hope for trilateral collaboration between EU, China and the US in developing regulatory framework on big tech. Following the contribution of experts, moderator Mr. Matic Gajsek, Deputy Director of Europe-Asia Center raised a question of whether digital governance can be resolved purely on bilateral level or should there be an aim of trilateral framework, supported by the strong dialogue of technological players. Dr. Henry Huiyao Wang highlighted his D20 (Digital 20) proposal which would create dialogue arena for digital industry, think-tank’s and policy makers. Dr. Andreas Schwab emphasized the need for involvement of broader range of stakeholders, specifically citizens and small enterprises that are to be provided with “basic rights and values legislation.” Dr. Sebastian Hallensleben suggested the creation of new platforms that can secure continuous advancement of discussions on digital policy making. Ms. Mireia Paulo advocated for the constructive role legislative and research working groups can have in such process and raised the concern for possible counter-productive “blocking narratives”, dividing stakeholders into different blocks. Dr. Maria Adele Carrai reiterated the trilateral cooperation between EU, China and US as the best way forward in the creation of a global tech regulation. Full webinar available on the link: https://youtu.be/E0rVqj0aERY For press enquiries: Matic Gajšek, Deputy director Europe – Asia Center E-mail: m.gajsek(at)europe-asia.org

The 19th Asian Games Hangzhou 2022 will be held in Zhejiang, China on September 23, 2023. Starting from today, the Zhejiang Provincial Department of Culture and Tourism and the 19th Asian Games Hangzhou 2022 Organizing Committee are accepting submissions for the Global Design Collection of “Picturesque Zhejiang Travel Package” for the 19th Asian Games Hangzhou 2022. We sincerely invite artists and creators to explore the beauty of Zhejiang with a cross-cultural perspective. Let us share our innovation and enthusiasm with the world and ignite the spirit of the Asian Games. APPLICATION LINK: http://www.ezhejiang.gov.cn/2022-10/09/c_818064.htm SUBMISSION DEADLINE –PLEASE NOTE THE DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSION HAS BEEN EXTENDED TO 24:00PM on November 28, 2022 WAY OF SUBMISSION: Email to the official email address (The title of the email should be “Designs of’Picturesque Zhejiang Travel Package’for the 19th Asian Games Hanazhou 2022+ Countrv + Name”.) E-mail address for applicants from overseas [design@europe-asia.org] Requirements: Awards BEST WORKS: Award certificate / a prize of USD 2,000 or two tickets for the opening ceremony of the Asian Games (excluding airtare and accommodation/ Asian Games souvenirs OUTSTANDING WORKS: Award certincate a prize of USD 300 / Asian Games HOSTED BY Zhejiang Provincial Department of Culture and Tourism The 19th Asian Games Hangzhou 2022 Organising Committee Office

Editorial contribution by H.E. Erik Solheim, renowned Norwegian diplomat, former United Nation’s Under-secretary General and Executive director of UN Environmental Programme. It’s time the world opens its eyes to how fast India is moving forward Money straight into the account of those who need it. This is how many poor people perceive that India has improved under Prime Minister Narendra Modi. At the same time, he is building the world’s largest – and perhaps most successful – political party, the BJP. When India now celebrates 75 years as a republic, it may be time to focus on all the progress in the country? When India became free from Britain, life expectancy was around 30. Only a few could read and write. Life expectancy is now almost 70, nearly all children in India start in school and the richest Indian states in the south of the country, such as Tamil Nadu, have reached a lower European economic level. Every day, Prime Minister Modi implements programs that reach the poorest much more accurately than in the past, digital programs that all developing countries can learn from. When India’s previous governments wanted to support the poor, most of the money was lost along the way. Of 100 rupees earmarked for the poor, perhaps 15 reached the targeted people. The rest disappeared on the way to middlemen, in the central administration, in the states, districts and villages. It was not unusual for a village to register hundreds of fake benefit recipients so that middlemen could eat from the plate. A new digital economy makes it possible to break this curse. Now the government deposits the money directly into your digital account. The money is yours; no one can take it from you. The amounts are not always large, but the poorer you are, the more it means if there is suddenly 1,000 rupees (125 Norwegian kroners) in the account. Money you can track on your mobile phone. The poor get much stronger bargaining power when the money is sent to their account and earmarked for them and doesn’t go through middlemen you have to beg from. Power dynamics are changing. I have many horrible memories of seeing how poor people could not reach the ticketing desk of the railway station or the counter of the bank in ancient India. There were always better-dressed, better-fed people with pointed elbows who made their way to the front. Not infrequently, people in the bureaucracy licked the rich and powerful, while kicking down and scolding poor people. If you were of a low caste, it was best to walk with your hands outstretched to get at least some of what you were entitled to. Increase in financial support When Modi came to power in 2014, 108 million Indians received direct financial support from the state, writes Nalin Mehta in the book The New BJP. In 2020, the figure was 763 million. The amount paid increased 44 times during this period. The money is paid out in various programs and for many purposes. There are support measures in agriculture, support for gas to stop smoky kitchens, support for housing in the countryside or for the construction of toilets. “Swaatch Bharat”, or clean India, is Modi’s signature project. He has gone for a frontal attack on the open defacation that was common in rural India. When people did what they needed in the fields, it contributed to pollution, diseases and an unpleasant environment. Many women felt extra vulnerable to sexual abuse. Since Modi became Prime Minister, 100 million village toilets have been built. “Izzat Ghar” – house of respect Most interesting for us who want to bring development to the world is perhaps how this has been organized. Modi has brought in a new mindset, made possible through digital technology. The money does not go via the state, municipality or intermediaries. People who want to build get money and do it themselves. 10,000 rupees (1250 Norwegian kroners) is deposited as the first tranche into your account. The last 2000 rupees is paid once the toilet is geo-located and verified. You can choose to build yourself or hire people from the village to do the work. After Modi saw graffiti in Varanasi, where someone had called a toilet Izzat Ghar, he asked India to find synonyms in all twenty official languages. Izzat Ghar is Hindi and means “house of respect”. Toilets give people respect. A changed party In India’s largest state Uttar Pradesh, with 220 million inhabitants, 17 million toilets have been built. Perhaps that is why Modi’s party BJP became the first government to be re-elected in decades in Uttar Pradesh? As one observer commented: “You can build roads and pave them with silver and gold, but nothing happens with regard to voters. When people receive the money personally, it is something completely different.” For a European, perhaps the most surprising thing is that it is precisely the BJP, the Indian People’s Party, which has carried out this revolution for the poor. The change is total. The BJP was a male-dominated party that now has the most female voters. BJP was a high caste party. Now 70% of MPs come from low or middle castes. The BJP has managed something no Indian party has ever come close to – having equal electoral support among all groups of Hindus – high, middle and low caste. Now the BJP stands stronger than the Congress Party, which for half a century dominated India because they have a clearer ideology and much deeper roots among the majority of the people. I don’t know anyone who is betting their savings on BJP losing the next election in 2024. Criticized for welfare populism On his way to power, Modi has outmaneuvered his opponents by adopting and improving their policies. Modi presides over perhaps the most left-wing economic policy in India’s history, critics call it “welfare populism”. The state is actively used as an instrument in development and environmental policy in a way that should make the Norwegian social democratic prime minister blush. A very important part of Modi’s success lies in his focus on women. The BJP has more women in its leadership than any other Indian party. They have changed inheritance laws in India in favor of women. At the 75th anniversary now, the BJP elected Droupadi Murmu as the country’s president, to my knowledge the first woman from an indigenous population to lead an important country, moreover a woman from a low caste and with the most touching life story. Something really to be proud of! Almost all India-focus in Western media is on cultural conflict and disputes between Hindus and Muslims. These are important questions that I would like to discuss another time. But whatever one may think – there is less violence in India than on the vast majority of other continents. It is also permissible to be optimistic even here. Hinduism is a secular, not dogmatic religion and India can accommodate everyone. “We Indians are all seekers, we don’t believe in any absolutes” replied India’s perhaps most prominent spiritual leader Sadhguru, when I challenged him a couple of months ago. Absurdly, Modi gets almost no credit for all the historical and day-to-day progress in India from Western media and Western intellectuals. There, ignorance towards India is so total that it is not unusual to place Modi in the group of authoritarian nationalists, on a par with Bolsenaro, Putin, Trump and others. It’s time to open your eyes to how fast India is moving forward!

Keynote address by H.E. Violeta Bulc, former EU Commissioner for Transport & Mobility (2014 – 2019) on the occasion of the launch of publication by Professor Martin Albrow and seminar “Exploring Common Values and Goals – China and the Shared Future for Mankind”.

Ambassador (ret.) Piet Steel Written by Ambassador (ret.) Piet Steel, Chairman of Europe – Asia Center and Consul General of Kingdom of Belgium to Hong Kong (1993 and 1997) As Consul General of Belgium in Hong Kong between 1993 and 1997, I was a privileged witness of the years leading to the reunification of Hong Kong with the People’s Republic of China. These were bonding years for me with the people of Hong Kong and its growing expat community, allowing me to get a deep understanding of the political, economic and social stakes behind the reunification. Since I left Hong Kong in 1997, I continued to travel to the Territory as Chairman of the Belgium Hong Kong Society and vice-Chairman of the Federation of Hong Kong Business Associations Worldwide. At each visit I was comforted in my opinion that Hong Kong’s destiny and future were closely interconnected with the further political and economic developments in China. And that is what has happened since. On July 1st we celebrate the 25th anniversary of the founding of the Special Administrative Region of Hong Kong, an “inalienable part of the People’s Republic of China” as internationally recognised in Article One of the Basic Law. This anniversary deserves to be honoured as an historic milestone in China’s millenary past. This is an occasion that couldn’t leave anyone who stands for peace and justice indifferent. The 25 years of “one country, two systems” have, admittedly, had their share of challenging moments, but overall the formula conceived by the paramount Chinese leader Deng Xiaoping and agreed upon with the British colonial power, to peacefully make Hong Kong part of China again, has proven to be successful and has demonstrated the extraordinary political foresight and vision of the then political leadership. News about the imminent demise of Hong Kong is a recurrent feature in the Western media, but the City today remains as vibrant as ever. Neither two serious health crises, nor grave financial turbulences, nor political strife, nor violent riots have shaken Hong Kong’s sterling foundations of stability and prosperity. Branded as one of the most diverse and dynamic cities in the world, Hong Kong has rightly upheld and fostered its unique position of a natural, vital and multicultural gateway to and from China, the rest of Asia and beyond. Hong Kong is Asia’s World City. Its stellar attributes of openness, ingenuity, entrepreneurial and cosmopolitan mind-set, hard work and steely diligence, are firmly rooted in the spirit and temperament of its people. As residents of a Special Administrative region in China, they will doubtless continue to strive for keeping their prominent place in Asia and the world. It is in the interest of China, Europe and the world to have a stable Hong Kong as a financial and technological powerhouse, playing a significant part in the consolidation of a multipolar global order. I wish Hong Kong and its people every success in the years to come. Hong Kong for ever!

The address by Amb. (ret.) Piet Steel is a transcript of his keynote given at the webinar “Ukraine: What happened? What’s next?”, hosted by CCG – China Center for Globalization. While we are discussing this morning the invasion of Ukraine by Russian forces, Putin’s air force continue to bomb indiscriminately Ukrainian cities. Kyiv is the new front line in this atrocious war. Before entering more in detail on the short term and long term repercussions of this invasion, let me express my utter horror and disgust at the blatant, unprovoked attack by Putin against an independent, sovereign, peace loving country. This is Putin’s war, not the war of the Russian people. In my long career as a Belgian diplomat, having been a privileged witness of the end of the cold war, I have never been so shell-shocked, never been so numb, listening to the news last week of the Russian invasion into Ukraine. This was unprovoked, without any justification whatsoever except lies and fake facts, without any legal ground, nothing, pure blatant military power on innocent Ukrainians. This is a senseless war, perpetuated by a cold dictator who thinks he can reshape the world according to his own wishes. Very emotionally, I say: NO PASARAN I want to pay tribute to the Ukrainian people and President Zelensky for their heroic resistance. They will prevail whatever the price they will have to pay for their ultimate victory. Sorry for this emotional words, but I am not only a retired diplomat but more importantly a father and a grandfather. How can I explain to them this kind of barbaric medieval violence coming from Russia, a country known for its rich culture and civilization? As I said, while we are discussing the faith of the valiant Ukrainians, their faith is left in the balance. What will happen after another terrible night in Kiev? Will there be a ceasefire soon to save lives and reputations? An even greater bloodbath? Total war? Total surrender? A tactical retreat of the aggressor? A civil war ? There are still too many open questions, but what is now already certain the Russian invasion of Ukraine will reshape, redraw the geopolitical map of Europe. Gone is the era of prudent appeasement and active cooperation with the Putin regime. Putin is definitely revealing himself as the archenemy of the free world, as a military gangster within Europe. This was already apparent after his incursions in Georgia, Crimea, East Ukraine, Moldavia, Syria, and recently Kazakhstan. It was further apparent after the shooting down of a passenger plane in 2014, and the poisoning and assassination of his political opponents. Until last week, the West tolerated his behavior and did not resist, or very little. Not anymore. Putin has achieved in one week what he has been trying to avoid the last twenty years. NATO, which last year was still declared “brain dead”, has found a new lifeblood, new vigor and new unity. In the short term we can expect to see more American boots on the ground in Europe, and in the medium term a genuine European defense. The defense spending, the strategic cooperation, the geographical presence: this will become more and more European. How Europe will pay for it, remains to be seen. The most amazing unintended consequence of Putin’s invasion is Germany which has this week decided to become a true military power in Europe, the first time since the end of the Second World War. As long as Putin is in power, democratic Europe will be in a permanent flux of conflict with Russia. Every European democracy, not a member of the EU or NATO will feel strategically threatened by Russia. The further expansion of the EU and NATO is now predictable. A new iron curtain will be erected. The invasion of Ukraine is a wake-up call for Europe’s relations with China. We will have to review significantly our relationship and our mutual dependencies. War should not mean politics but with other means. China’ first reactions against Putin’s invasion were ambiguous but its decision to abstain in the Security Council condemning Russia’s invasion is a hopeful sign that China eventually will choose to be standing on the right side of history, and side with the nations in favor of a rules and value based international order and opposing the law of the jungle. We remain hopeful that China will take up a mediation role to bring back peace and the rule of law. It is in its own interest and in the interest of the survival of this planet.

Call to Global leaders, following the webinar “Faster, Higher, Stronger – Together” – The Importance of Sports Diplomacy in Building Asia – Europe Relations The universal values of excellence, friendship and mutual respect are the foundations of the Olympic movement redefined through the modern manifesto of Baron Pierre de Coubertin in 1892. These values are shaping the Olympic movement, and inspire all those who foster the spirit of harmonious partnership of the global community. With the original Olympics dating to 776BC in the era of Ancient Greece, the Olympic movement started as a Greek festival celebrating Zeus, the Greek God of sky and weather. The six-month long games that united athletes from city-states through competitions in wrestling, boxing, long jump, javelin, discus and chariot racing, remains an inspiration for modern times. Just think of of ‘Ekecheiria’ or “Olympic truce” which during the time of the games,was the personification of truce, armistice and cessation of hostilities allowing all the athletes and pilgrims to travel safely from their home cities to the games.. Ekecheiria belong to the core values of the Ancient Olympic Games. It is still more than relevant in today’s world. With the renewal of the Olympic Truce by the International Olympic Committee and a year later on October 25th 1993 with the revived Truce of the United Nations in their Resolution 48/11, the Olympic spirit constitutes the platform of dialogue for peace and security in the world. It aims aims at both mobilizing the Olympic spirit in the younger generations and at facilitating a genuine dialogue between communities in conflict, and creating a window of opportunities for global dialogue and reconciliation. On 20 July 2021, the International Olympic Committee approved a change in the Olympic motto that recognises the unifying power of sport and the importance of solidarity. The change adds the word “together” after an en dash to “Faster, Higher, Stronger”. Sports diplomacy is a new term that describes an old practice: the unique power of sport to bring people, nations, and communities closer together via a shared love of physical pursuits. Though sport diplomacy is not new, the power of sport has never been more important in our current century. The Olympics Games continue to be internationally significant event that unite people through the ultimate manifestation of the greatest achievements in the field of sports. Celebrating the upcoming Olympic year, we aim to highlight the importance of the Olympic spirit of “Faster, Higher, Stronger – Together” as an important driver f for human communication and development. The Olympic Games are a unique stage for athletes and a global showcase of unity conveyed through the Olympic spirit. In spite of the differences in cultures, languages, geography, colours and races, we share the charm and joy of the sport events worldwide, and together we seek for the ideal of humankind for peace. We belong to the same world and we share the same aspirations and dreams. And it is through the power of sport that facilitation of peace and bridging gaps between nations and cultures can happen. It builds long-term mutually beneficial partnerships with third countries and societies, particularly when relations have become estranged. Sport diplomacy extends the appeal of a nation’s people and culture to third countries through the cultivation of people-to-people links with grassroots initiatives becoming increasingly prominent. As the famous ping-pong diplomacy case illustrates, the visit between Chinese ping-pong athletes and their US counterparts in 1971 opened the door for people’s exchanges between China and the United States and paved the way for a sustainable Sino–US rapprochement. The changes that followed the event were so incremental that ping-pong diplomacy has been remembered as ‘a small ball making turn the big ball’. Ahead of the Olympic Winter Games hosted in Beijing, we as athletes endorse any initiative calling an open dialogue between the East and the West. We wish the Olympic Winter Games every success in uniting the world through the power of sports and the Olympic spirit!

Once hailed as a wonder material, plastic has become a threat to life Written by H.E. Erik Solheim, Vice-chair of the Europe – Asia Center, former UN Deputy Secretary General and Executive Director of UNEP When plastic was introduced in the United States in the 1950s, it was seen as the wonder material. We could preserve food better, make cars and aircraft lighter and protect against dangerous bacteria. But as often happens in human life, when we discover something good, we get addicted. We start overusing it. There are three main reasons why humanity needs to overcome its addiction to plastic. Plastics have no role in nature. They are causing an environmental catastrophe. A whale died in Thailand recently. It vomited plastic bags while passing away. Sea birds dive down mistaking plastics for shellfish. They feed their chicks with this poisonous food. They perish, as do camels, cows and turtles, in all corners of the planet. Single-use plastic is an additional economic disaster. Who will swim along the wonderful beaches in Hainan province, in Sri Lanka or in Bali, if it means entering a sea of plastics? For this reason, tourism-dependent Indonesia declared plastic pollution a major economic threat to the nation. Plastics enter our bodies. We breathe plastic, we drink plastic and we eat plastic. Bigger plastic items fragment in nature and get into our bodies as microplastics. Fish carry plastics. Even the most pristine waters of the world, in the Himalayas or the Arctic, now contain microplastics. We don’t know exactly how microplastics affect the human body. But no one has suggested that is good for us. Fortunately, we know how to solve the plastic crisis. The solution doesn’t involve costly high tech or impossible international diplomacy. Every nation can act, without looking over their shoulder asking what others are doing. The cleanest nation in the world is the most improbable place. In small, poor, landlocked Rwanda you cannot find garbage in the streets. The capital city of Kigali is absolutely clean. “All Rwandans keep clean at home”, President Paul Kagame told me. We just need to transform that spirit to the community at large. The solution is three-fold. First, we should prohibit all single-use plastics we do not need. Let’s simply ban straws, plastic cutlery, plastic cups and bags. This is what the Indian government has done even if it’s not yet fully respected everywhere. The European Union has done the same. We can all drink straight from a normal glass, without straws. In average, one North American uses 600 straws a year. Does it make them happier? There is no need to wait. Let’s just do it. We can be a lot more innovative. Straws can be made from bamboo or from paper. Indians have through millenniums eaten from plates made of banana leaves. All over the planet startups are trying to make products with the characteristics of plastics from potatoes, sugar cane and many other natural materials. If we throw away natural products, they will disintegrate in nature. China’s delivery industry, for example, annually produces about 1.8 million metric tons of plastic waste. Bamboo, which is fast-growing, resilient and sustainable, can be used as a substitute for single-use plastics, while being recyclable and eco-friendly. Planting bamboo can restore degraded or deforested land, mitigate soil erosion and provide food for giant pandas and mountain gorillas. Second, we need to recycle. Yes, we can ban single-use plastics, but we still have many plastic products which are useful to us and not so easy to replace. A normal car contains many kilos of plastics, it makes the car lighter and consumes less energy. These plastics must be brought in and recycled. Between 2011 and 2020, China recycled 170 million tons of plastic waste, helping reduce crude oil consumption by 510 million tons and cut carbon emissions by 61.2 million tons. China has grown into the largest plastic recycling country in the world. It recycled about one-third of its new plastic waste in 2021, about 1.7 times the global average. Beijing is making headway in this regard, requiring the city’s courier services to step up and fully transform the packaging practice, switching to digital waybills, narrower packaging tape and recyclable bags. The city of Shanghai, and provinces such as Shanxi, Guangdong, Jiangsu, Zhejiang and Fujian are taking similar measures, all in alignment with a 2020 directive from the Chinese government. Hangzhou, the host city of the postponed 2022 Asian Games, scheduled to take place in September, is set to make the Games a showcase of its “zero-waste city “endeavor and create a “zero-waster “model for large-scale sporting events. It is making this bold attempt by going green, frugal, paperless and recyclable. Third, let the market wave its magic wand. All countries should introduce Extended Producer Responsibility. That is the polluter-pays principle for the plastics era. A company which contributes to the plastic crisis should also be held responsible for funding the solution. With extended producer responsibility, companies will be engaged in driving the technology for change. They will have to pay a levy on plastics which governments can use to organize plastic collection and pay for large-scale recycling. Waste is a potential resource. We can turn it into new products, creating jobs and prosperity, protecting Mother Earth all at the same time. Individuals can also act. Afroz Shah is an Indian environmental activist best known for organizing the world’s largest beach clean-up project, inspiring people around the world to clean up their environment. I have joined him for many clean-ups at rivers and beaches in the mega city of Mumbai. What started as an individual following his heart to act, became a vast movement for political and business change and for a new pact between humans and nature. A young Sri Lankan Nishanka De Silva started Zero Plastics Sri Lanka in the midst of the economic meltdown of his home country. I thought it was impossible to mobilize young people for green action amid the crisis. Incredibly, young Sri Lankans turned out in droves. The global people’s movement to fight single-use plastics is still in its early days. But there is no doubt, it will be successful. China will continue to play a critical role in solutions. On world Environment Day — let’s join hands to beat plastic pollution. Editorial contribution was made as part of China Daily editorial article. H.E. Erik Solheim is furthermore the vice president of the Green Belt and Road Coalition and former executive director of the United Nations Environment Programme. The author contributed this article to China Watch, a think tank powered by China Daily.

Paris, February 1st, 2023 On January 29, 2024, the preparatory meeting for the launch of the “Oriental Lifestyle Aesthetics & Ecological Alliance” in partnership between Yu Yuan Group, Europe – Asia Center and European Institute For Comparative Urban Research (EURICUR). Europe – Asia Center was represented by Madame Sheila Arora, vice-chair, Matic Gajsek, director for Europe and May Ma, Director of the Cultural Communication. Exploring the theme of “In Harmony with Nature, Linking Friends Across Mountains and Seas”, Madame Sheila Arora, on behalf of the Europe – Asia Center, Prof. Jan van der Borg, Director of EURICUR, and Junjie Hu, Vice President of Yu Yuan Group, signed a cooperation agreement to establish the Oriental Lifestyle Aesthetics Ecological Alliance. This alliance aims at connecting a range of organizations and enterprises in the Culture and Creative industries, specifically in domain of fashion, as well as culture and creative tourism, connecting it with investment and market opportunities in Europe and China. Alliance’s vision is to foster an Oriental Lifestyle Aesthetics Ecological Circle based on the mutual understanding of civilizations, the coexistence of cultures, and the development of industrial co-creativity. Mr. Junjie Hu from Yu Yuan Group highlighted Oriental Lifestyle Aesthetics being among the “beauties of life”, discovered by Chinese people in different historical periods, of different classes and embodying a variety of perspectives. In an open and diverse world, Oriental Lifestyle Aesthetics has become the vocabulary for China’s in-depth communication and interaction with people around the globe. Over the last few years Chinese enterprises, represented by Yu Yuan Group, have been actively practicing Oriental Lifestyle Aesthetics, enhancing the industry’s cultural depth. For example, the Yuyuan Garden Lantern Festival, a national legacy project in China, has gone abroad and lit up the night sky of Paris, becoming a popular leisure event for the local people. Similarly, the landmark of Shanghai’s urban cultural and tourism industry, the Grand Yuyuan District is introducing European fashion resources to promote the city’s diverse characteristics, and to create a humanistic neighborhood where the East and the West meet together. Madame Sheila Arora emphasized that cooperation between Europe – Asia Center, Yu Yuan Group and EURICUR once again reflects the importance of dialogues between China and Europe. Cultural exchanges and cultural and tourism industries are not only a driving force for economic prosperity, but also a means to deepen the mutual understanding. In the current context of regional inequality and cultural barriers, Oriental Lifestyle Aesthetics presents a constructive solution by prioritizing humanistic communication, industrial interaction and the quality of life for citizens around the globe. We are pleased to see that Yu Yuan Group is continuously building high-quality cultural and tourism industry products by leveraging its rich industrial foundation and cultural resources. The Europe Asia Center will also facilitate communication and collaboration among industry stakeholders, governments, non-for profit organizations and at various levels, so as to contribute to the establishment of the Oriental Lifestyle Aesthetics system. Prof. Jan van der Borg highlighted the significance of sustainable development, which has garnered widespread support in European countries. Concept that encompasses ecological friendliness, energy innovation, environmental responsibility, and the preservation of cultural heritage. Yu Yuan Group’s strategy for Oriental Lifestyle Aesthetics not only centers on culture but also emphasizes the integration of cultural styles with industrial scenarios. It serves as an exemplary case study for society’s sustainable development and aligns seamlessly with the trajectory of Sino-European dialogue. The ongoing construction in the Grand Yuyuan District is both dynamic and challenging. EURICUR is eager to contribute its expertise to elevate the distinct identity of this century-old cultural district in terms of residential, cultural, and industrial spaces. The goal is to transform it into a benchmark for comparative studies between Chinese and European cities. Xiang Feng, Director of the EURICUR Shanghai Branch and Liling Li, Director of the Institute for Oriental Lifestyle Aesthetics Research at Yu Yuan Group presented an overview of the collaborative project-the design and production of the Oriental Lifestyle Aesthetics Experience Guide. Focused on inbound tourism to Shanghai, the guide integrates rich Eastern aesthetic scenes and popular landmarks, providing a distinctive Oriental aesthetic experience for incoming visitors with a user-friendly, visually appealing format. For press enquiries: Matic Gajšek, Director for Europe, Europe – Asia Center E-mail: m.gajsek(at)europe-asia.org

Positioning paper on the vision of the Europe – Asia Center, written by Ambassador Jean De Ruyt and H.E. Erik Solheim Ambassador Jean De Ruyt and H.E. Erik Solheim, the Co-Chairs of the Europe – Asia Center With recent developments around the globe, it has become virtually impossible to anticipate with precision what will happen in 2024. From the war in Ukraine and Gaza, the ‘super-election’ year in so many countries involving nearly half of the world’s population, it is yet to be seen who will be at the steering wheel to navigate nations through such turbulent times. In Asia, the election year started with the elections in Bangladesh and Taiwan, to be followed by India, Indonesia, South Korea, and Pakistan. As an international non-profit organization based at the heart of Europe, we will continue to follow the election developments on both the national level and European elections, resulting in the appointment of a new European Commission leadership at the end of 2024. Belgium is leading the presidency of the European Council in the first half of 2024, followed by Hungary in the second. The key legislative agenda will need to be concluded in the first months of the year, yet many Directives and Regulations are still in discussion, becoming a pressing issue in reaching agreements due to the European election in early June. The announcement of the European Council president, Charles Michel, to renounce his post mid-year and to compete for a seat in the European Parliament is a sign that the campaign has already begun. The Belgian Prime Minister, Alexander De Croo, is very conscious of the need to keep active the dialogue with Asia and started his presidency with an official visit to Beijing on January 10. Such high-level visits, including the visit to Beijing by the president of the European Commission in December, are being closely analysed by our Center. Policies, including the ‘de-risking’ of the relationship with China and the imbalance in trade with the EU, are indeed the current hot topics of interest. We at the Europe-Asia Center have resolutely decided that these differences should be approached by dialogue and not by emulating those who, mainly in the United States, seem to be tempted by a new ‘cold war.’ November 5 is a key date in the year with the world following closely the primaries in the US and the election of the new president which will obviously have a significant influence on the world’s stage. Should Donald Trump return to the White House, the agenda will be very different to a US under a second term for Joe Biden. We have to be prepared, in Europe as well as in Asia, for the two alternatives. Political developments have not been the only concern to the global outlook. In the past year, our wonderful Planet Earth has borne witness to an unprecedented number of natural disasters, ranging from devastating wildfires in Europe and Canada to floods in Pakistan and cyclones in Myanmar. Globally, fossil fuels were endowed with over $7 trillion in subsidies last year alone, translating to a staggering $11 million every minute. 2023 was the hottest year on record. Despite these disconcerting realities, we need to have hope for the political economy. Change is historically slow until there is a convergence, often with no warning. We are in the early days of the renewable revolution, one that will certainly take place. Two pivotal shifts in the trajectory of global climate action have emerged since the UN climate talks in Bali in 2007. Firstly, the scale and scope of these conferences have dramatically changed. What started as a gathering of a few thousand diplomats intensely focused on negotiated texts has now grown into a gathering of over 100,000 people in Dubai. Business is now perhaps the main driver of change. With the cost reduction of solar and wind energy by 90% over the last decade it is the ‘political economy, stupid,’ if we paraphrase the quote of President Bill Clinton. The second notable shift is geopolitical. Where we previously recommended Brussels, Berlin, or Paris for exemplifying environmental practices, the tide has shifted towards Beijing, Delhi, and Jakarta. With China leading in over 60% of all green markets, Prime Minister Modi launching green missions by the day, and Indonesia achieving zero deforestation in 2022, our extensive engagements throughout China, India and the ASEAN region leave us in awe of the great strides being made. It is a clear demonstration of a shift in emphasis from diplomatic discussions to a focus on the political economy, also from Europe to Asia. But the transition requires active engagement, given the multitude of obstacles on the path to a greener and fairer world. It’s a no-brainer that if we wish to solve the major issues of our time – climate and environment, poverty and unemployment, wars in Ukraine, the Middle East, and beyond – we need more, not less, global cooperation. The foundation for a lasting global order in 2024 and beyond rests on two fundamental principles: mutual respect and dialogue. Rejecting a zero-sum worldview is essential; the ascent of China over the last 40 years benefits not only the Chinese but humanity as a whole. Embracing a new global order demands genuine collaboration and respect between major players such as China, the US, India, the European Union, Turkey, Indonesia, Brazil, South Africa and Russia. To achieve civilisational prosperity, the Europe-Asia Center is committed to empowering relationships between the communities of Europe and Asia. We have to work on forward-thinking initiatives that can deliver tangible benefits, contributing to the prosperity of the world, of everyone.