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Brussels, June 19th, 2024 On Tuesday, June 18th, the Europe-Asia Center , represented by Vice-Chair Violeta Bulc , former EU Commissioner for Transport, and Director for Europe Matic Gajsek , had the honor of visiting H.E. Baimukhan Margulan , Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Kazakhstan to the Kingdom of Belgium, and Head of the Mission of the Republic of Kazakhstan to the European Union (EU) and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). The meeting commenced with a warm welcome from the Ambassador Margulan , setting the stage for a fruitful discussion on current Europe-Kazakhstan relations. Both sides expressed their views on a range of critical issues and identified key areas for enhanced collaboration. Topics included the EU-Mongolia collaboration on critical rare earth materials, the green transition, and the environment. Mme Bulc highlighted Kazakhstan’s advancements and its pivotal role in fostering sustainable development and green energy initiatives. She emphasized the importance of cooperation in achieving mutual goals and creating innovative solutions to global challenges. Mr. Gajsek presented potential avenues for future collaboration, underscoring the Europe-Asia Center's commitment to working closely with Kazakh partners to strengthen bilateral ties. Ambassador Margulan reciprocated by expressing strong support for greater cooperation and mutual understanding between Europe and Kazakhstan. Following the discussion, the Ambassador invited the Europe-Asia Center delegation to visit the embassy’s authentic yurt. This unique experience evoked the vast, open landscapes of Central Asia and sparked the guests' interest in exploring the cultural richness of Kazakhstan. Reflecting on the meeting, Mr. Gajsek remarked with enthusiasm, “I am truly grateful to Ambassador Margulan for his insightful perspectives and proactive stance on institutional cooperation. His warm hospitality and the immersive experience in the yurt left a lasting impression. We eagerly anticipate deepening our collaboration and forging stronger bonds with Kazakhstan.” For press enquiries: Jonathan Schwestka , Project Coordinator, Europe – Asia Center E-mail: jonathan.schwestka@europe-asia.org

Brussels, June 18th, 2024 On Monday, June 17th, a distinguished delegation from the Europe-Asia Center, led by Vice-Chair Violeta Bulc, former EU Commissioner for Transport, along with Director for Europe Matic Gajsek and Project Coordinator Jonathan Schwestka, had the honor of meeting H.E. Luvsanvandan Bold, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Mongolia to the Kingdom of Belgium and the European Union. During a productive and wide-ranging discussion, both parties exchanged views on current EU-Mongolia relations and voiced strong support for enhanced collaboration on several key issues, including critical rare earth materials, women empowerment, and the development of sustainable villages and rural areas. Ambassador Bold also expressed enthusiasm for Madame Bulc’s possible participation in the World Women's Forum in Ulaanbaatar, a gesture that was warmly received by Madame Bulc. The meeting was followed by a special presentation of an exhibition celebrating the 35th anniversary of EU-Mongolia diplomatic relations, featuring photographs documenting significant milestones in their bilateral ties. In a truly memorable conclusion to the visit, Ambassador Bold invited the Europe-Asia Center delegation to enjoy a traditional Mongolian throat-singing performance inside an authentic yurt. Reflecting on the visit, Matic Gajsek, Director for Europe, stated, “I am deeply grateful to Ambassador Bold not only for his valuable insights and proactive stance on institutional cooperation but also for his exceptional hospitality in arranging this unforgettable performance by Mongolian musicians. I eagerly anticipate our future collaborations.” For press enquiries: Jonathan Schwestka, Project Coordinator, Europe – Asia Center E-mail: jonathan.schwestka@europe-asia.org

Brussels, June 18th, 2024 On Monday, June 17th, a high-level delegation from the Europe-Asia Center, led by Co-Chairs H.E. Erik Solheim and H.E. Jean de Ruyt, welcomed a delegation from the Global Energy Interconnection Development and Cooperation Organization (GEIDCO), headed by Secretary-General Wu Xian, in Brussels. Commencing with opening speeches from Secretary-General Wu, Co-Chair Solheim, and Co-Chair de Ruyt, the meeting progressed with GEIDCO providing a detailed summary of its initiatives and goals. Following this, Professor Wei Shen, Vice-Chair of the Europe-Asia Center, elaborated on the Center's activities. The subsequent dialogue was insightful, leading to an agreement to strengthen collaboration in several key areas, including capacity building and the joint hosting of events aimed at promoting the renewable energy transition. Vice-Chair Professor Wei Shen remarked, “The renewable energy transition is not just an environmental imperative but a monumental challenge that requires global cooperation. GEIDCO stands as a pivotal force in this field, and our collaboration has the potential to create powerful synergies. Together, I am hopeful that we can contribute to turning the tide towards a sustainable future and making significant strides in achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals.” For press enquiries: Jonathan Schwestka, Project Coordinator, Europe – Asia Center E-mail: jonathan.schwestka@europe-asia.org

East meets West Expert Series An Expert Roundtable organised by the Europe-Asia Centre, Brussels August 2021 The last European Council raised “strategic autonomy”1 to the level of a central concept for a new phase of the European project. Building European strategic autonomy on a horizontal – cross-policy basis is expected to – strengthen EU multilateral action, reduce dependence on external actors, and make the EU less vulnerable in areas such as energy, disinformation digital technology. Especially, the new frontiers of global governance needs to be increased, and which must be fully understood in all its implications. This is the case of internet or cyberspace governance, as a new dimension of reality, is being massively amplified and transformed by the combined effect of the Internet of Things that connects trillions of objects and services to artificial intelligence. Until now, this is an area of growing a geostrategic competition and governance for cyberspace is still inconsistent and fragile, there is a huge potential for building European ‘strategic autonomy’ and ‘approach’ which can play a key role in improving the algorithms of governance at all levels build a truly multilateral way of governing internet. Participating high-level guests Ambassador (ret.) Piet Steel, Chairman of Europe-Asia Centre, Belgium H.E. Violeta Bulc, European Commissioner for Transport and Mobility (2014 – 2019), Deputy Prime-Minister of Slovenia Participating experts Ms Mireia Paulo, Lecturer and Research Associate, Faculty of East Asian Studies, Ruhr-Universität Bochum, Germany Mr André Loesekrug-Pietr, Chairman, Joint European Disruptive Initiative (JEDI), France Dr Miguel Otero-Iglesias, Professor of Practice at IE School of Global and Public Affairs and Senior Analyst at Elcano Royal Institute, Spain Roundtable moderator Mr Matic Gajsek, Deputy Director, Europe – Asia Center, Belgium Bottom of the page link to the webinar:

Human Rights at the Heart of the European Integration and UN Sustainable Development Goals East meets West Expert Series An Expert Conversation organised by the Europe-Asia Centre, Brussels October 2021 In 2012, the Nobel Peace Prize was awarded to the EU on the grounds that the organisation had advanced peace in Europe. When awarding the Nobel Peace Prize to the EU, the Norwegian Nobel Committee said its decision was based on the stabilising role the EU has played in transforming most of Europe from a continent of war to a continent of peace. The EU’s most important achievement, according to the committee, has been “the successful struggle for peace and reconciliation and for democracy and human rights. Human rights are also at the heart of the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), as in the absence of human dignity we cannot hope to drive sustainable development. Human Rights are driven by progress on all SDGs, and the SDGs are driven by advancements on human rights. The COVID-19 has even more highlighted the need for a more human-rights centric approach on the global scale. The crisis caused by the pandemic has been fuelled by deepening poverty, rising inequalities, structural and entrenched discrimination, and other gaps in human rights protection. Only measures to close these gaps and advance human rights can ensure we fully recover and build back a thriving world that is better, more resilient, just, and sustainable. End discrimination of any kind: Structural discrimination and racism have fuelled the COVID-19 crisis. Equality and non-discrimination are core requirements for a post-COVID world. Participating expert H. E. Ivan Bizjak, Former Director General of Justice and Home Affairs, Council of the European Union, Slovenia Conversation moderator Mr Matic Gajsek, Deputy Director, Europe – Asia Center, Belgium

East meets West Expert Series An Expert Roundtable organised by the Europe-Asia Centre, Brussels (December 2021) 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 for our current century. 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”. The new Olympic motto now reads: “Faster, Higher, Stronger – Together”. The change of the motto also reflects the longstanding three values of Olympism – excellence, friendship and respect. In less than 100 days, Beijing is set to become the first city in the world to have hosted both the summer and winter editions of the Olympic Games. With a vision of “Joyful Rendezvous upon Pure Ice and Snow,” Beijing 2022 will celebrate again the Olympic Movement and builds its activities to promote sport, culture and education with a view to building a better world. Participating high-level guests Ambassador (ret.) Piet Steel, Chairman of Europe-Asia Centre, Belgium Mrs Tina Maze, Olympic Champion with 2 Gold and 2 Silver Medals and 4 World Championship tittles in Alpine Skiing (Slovenia) Mr Peter Kavzer, Olympic Silver champion and World and European Champion in Slalom Canoeing (Slovenia) Mr Tim Mastnak, Olympian and Silver Medalist in World Champions in Snowboarding (Slovenia) Mr David Evangelista, President & Managing Director for Europe / Eurasia, Special Olympics (USA / Spain) Roundtable moderator Mr Matic Gajsek, Deputy Director, Europe – Asia Center, Belgium URL link to the Webinar video: https://youtu.be/931I9x33h4E

East meets West Expert Series An Expert Roundtable organised by the Europe-Asia Centre, Brussels – August 2022 The Digital Markets Act (DMA) presents another legislative step of the European block towards strengthening the European’s “strategic autonomy”. With the rise and integration of digital platforms into almost every dimension of European life, Europe recognized the need to regulate not only the benefits of digital transformation, but also of disadvantages and risks such as the negative influence on fundamental rights, state of democracies, societies and economies at large. At the core of the Digital Markets Act (DMA) remains the issue of tackling competition rules, which have previously fallen short in regulating the business practices of tech giants such as Google, Amazon or Meta. The political signal sent has been clear and as stated by the leading MEP working on the DMA, Andreas Schwab (EPP, Germany): “The DMA will rule out these practices, sending a strong signal to consumers and business in the single market: rules are set by the co-legislators, not private companies”. With many industry and regulatory stakeholders supporting the idea of some form of regulatory dialogue, there is a mutual consensus on benefits for both users and gatekeepers. Despite the political will in both the Council and European Parliament, there remains the need for dialogue towards making the final text implementable – with both obligations for gatekeepers and their accountability, and perhaps of even higher importance, developing the understanding on effect DMA will have on digital platforms, businesses or private users. Participating high-level guests Ambassador (ret.) Piet Steel, Chairman of Europe-Asia Centre, Belgium H.E. Dr. Andreas Schwab, Member of the European Parliament (EPP Group) and lead on the Digital Markets Act, Germany H.E. Mark Boris Adrijanic, Minister for Digital transformation (2020 – 2022), Slovenia Participating experts Dr. Sebastian Hallensleben, Chair of CEN-CENELEC JTC 21, expert advisory board of EU StandICT and co-chair of OECD ONE.AI group, Germany Dr. Miguel Otero-Iglesias, Professor of Practice at IE School of Global and Public Affairs and Senior Analyst at Elcano Royal Institute Spain Roundtable moderator Mr Matic Gajsek, Deputy Director, Europe – Asia Center, Belgium Bottom of the page link to the webinar:

East meets West Expert Series An Expert Roundtable organised by the Europe-Asia Centre, Brussels – October 2022 The Digital Markets Act (DMA) and the Digital Services Act (DSA) marked a substantial legislative step of the European Union towards strengthening the European’s “strategic autonomy”, central concept expected to also strengthen EU’s multilateral action reduce external dependence and reduce vulnerabilities such as the disinformation across digital information. The ongoing geopolitical tensions and consequential pause in the negotiations of a Comprehensive trade agreement (CTA) between EU and China, do hamper the progress of a structured dialogue in the area of Internet governance covered by the DMA and DSA. Regulations currently targeting business practices of the U.S. tech giants such as Google, Amazon or Meta, do create a 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. The question arises on what opportunities and future challenges DMA and DSA can bring to the EU-China dialogue. Participating high-level guests Ambassador (ret.) Piet Steel, Chairman of Europe-Asia Centre (Belgium) H.E. Dr. Andreas Schwab, Member of the European Parliament (EPP Group) and lead on the Digital Markets Act (Germany) Dr. Henry Huiyao Wang, President and Founder of China Center for Globalization (China) Participating experts Dr. Sebastian Hallensleben, Chair of CEN-CENELEC JTC 21, expert advisory board of EU StandICT and co-chair of OECD ONE.AI group (Germany) Ms Mireia Paulo, Head of Management of the Centre for EU-Asia Connectivity (CEAC) and Lecturer/Research Associate at Ruhr-Universität Bochum, Senior Consultant at the Shanghai A&Z Law Firm (Germany / Spain) Maria Adele Carrai, Assistant Professor of Global China Studies at NYU Shanghai (China) Roundtable moderator Mr Matic Gajsek, Deputy Director, Europe – Asia Center (Belgium) Bottom of the page link to the webinar:

Brussels, June 10th, 2024 On Friday, 7th of June, the Europe-Asia Center was honored to meet representatives of the East Asia & Pacific chapter of the European Business Organization Worldwide Network (EBOWN) on the occasion of their yearly regional meeting in Brussels. After an insightful introduction on contemporary EU-Asia relations by Europe-Asia Center Co-Chair H.E. Jean de Ruyt, and a presentation of the Europe-Asia Center by Director for Europe Mr. Matic Gajsek, participants discussed challenges and opportunities for enhancing EU-Asia business ties, expressing concerns about the growing geopoliticization of relations, and underscoring the imperative for intensified efforts in promoting dialogue and mutual understanding. Including representatives from the business chapters of Australia, Hong Kong, Macao, Mongolia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, and South Korea, the EBOWN delegation emphasized the importance of organizations like the Europe-Asia Center in bridging divides amidst an increasingly complex global geopolitical landscape. Moving beyond business matters, participants notably highlighted the significance of cultural collaboration, recognizing its potential to alleviate tensions and enhance the trade and investment environment between the EU and Asia. "Peace and stable relations are the bedrock upon which successful European trade and investment in Asia are built. Therefore, collaborating with business leaders to fortify dialogue and partnerships between East and West is a cornerstone priority for the Europe-Asia Center," noted Jonathan Schwestka, Project Coordinator at the Europe-Asia Center, at the conclusion of the meeting. For press enquiries: Jonathan Schwestka, Project Coordinator, Europe – Asia Center E-mail: jonathan.schwestka@europe-asia.org

Brussels, June 7th, 2024 On Thursday, 6th of June, the Europe-Asia Center had the pleasure of virtually meeting H.E. Ambassador Michael Christides, Co-Chair of the Executive Committee of the Balkans & Black Sea Forum (BBSF), and Mr. Giannis Balakakis, Chair of the Organizing Committee of the BBSF and President of the Board of Directors of the Geo Routes Cultural Institute. In an productive discussion, the two sides explored strategies to enhance cultural tourism, advance gender equality and social inclusion, and strengthen the ties between Europe and Asia. Additionally, Europe-Asia Vice-Chair H.E. Madame Violeta Bulc presented her Ecocivilisation initiative, which generated significant interest. Mr. Matic Gajsek, Director for Europe of the Europe-Asia Center, noted with satisfaction: "The Europe-Asia Center and the Balkans & Black Sea Forum are, to use an expression that is very much en vogue in recent years, very much "like-minded" organizations. Following this introductory meeting, I am eager to collaborate on concrete and forward-looking projects." For press enquiries: Jonathan Schwestka, Project Coordinator, Europe – Asia Center E-mail: jonathan.schwestka@europe-asia.org

Brussels/Beijing, May 12th, 2024 On Saturday, 11th of May, the Europe-Asia Center, in collaboration with Pangoal Institute, hosted the inaugural session of the landmark Europe-Asia Integration and Connectivity Symposium, held in Beijing, China. In the first part of the symposium, distinguished thought leaders, policymakers, and artists gathered for dynamic panel discussions and delivered illuminating keynote addresses on the topics of arts, education, and women's empowerment. Among the esteemed speakers were H.E. Erik Solheim, Co-chair of the Europe-Asia Center and former UN Undersecretary-General; H.E. Jean de Ruyt, Co-chair of the Europe-Asia Center and former Belgian Ambassador to the EU and UN; H.E. Irina Bokova, former Director General of UNESCO; Madame Sheila Arora, Vice-Chair of the Europe-Asia Center, Professor Wei Shen, Vice-Chair of the Europe-Asia Center, and Yan Rui, Secretary General of the Europe-Asia Center. Additionally, the summit welcomed prominent guests including Yi Peng, Chairman of the Pangoal Institute; H.E. Xia Hua, Deputy to the National People's Congress; H.E. Zhang Gu, former Deputy Secretary-General of the Sichuan Provincial Government; Li Guanru, founder of L3 Branding; Wang Weiqi, bestselling science fiction author; and Wang Yue, Secretary General of the Pangoal Institute, who all enriched the discourse with their invaluable insights. In their discussions, the panellists emphasized the critical role of arts and education in bridging Europe and Asia, and underscored the need for increased funding and collaboration on joint projects in these areas. Notably, Madame Bokova highlighted the importance of promoting STEAM education—science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics. In the afternoon, the symposium focused on international development strategies for Chinese enterprises. The discussions, featuring high-caliber guest speakers such as H.E. Bruno Angelet, Belgian Ambassador to China; H.E. Zhu Rui, former Assistant Minister of the International Liaison Department of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China; and Christiane Prange, Visiting Professor at Zhejiang University School of Business, were both insightful and highly relevant. Distinguished board members of the Europe-Asia Center and Pangoal Institute further enriched the dialogue. Chinese businesses demonstrated significant interest in the symposium, with notable attendees including Zhao Hejuan, founder of TMT Post; Mei Xiangrong, Global Partner at Yingke Law Firm; Mao Daqing, founder of Ucommune; Fu Sheng, chairman of Cheetah Mobile; Bai Yunfeng, chairman of the State Nuclear Power Technology Corporation; and Zhou Xicheng, chairman of Langjing Environmental Technology Ltd. Companies shared best practices in their internationalization strategies and discussed lessons learned. Mr. Solheim emphasized the crucial role of business in not only fostering closer ties between Europe and Asia but also promoting the green transition and achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). A particular highlight was a virtual presentation by Lisa Lang, Director of Policy at Climate-KIC, on the EU's green legislation. This provided Chinese entrepreneurs with essential insights for entering the European market. Mr. Matic Gajsek, Director for Europe at the Europe-Asia Center, showed great satisfaction at the outcomes of the symposium, noting: "Seeing the outcome of this symposium has made me incredibly happy. I am looking forward to making this an annual event and expanding it even further next year, reaching wider parts of East Asia. I want to extend my heartfelt thanks to all the guests and panellists who made this event such a success." For press enquiries: Jonathan Schwestka, Project Coordinator, Europe – Asia Center E-mail: jonathan.schwestka@europe-asia.org

Brussels, May 28th, 2024 The Europe-Asia Center, has the immense pleasure and honour to introduce Prof. Dr. Christiane Prange as the new Research Director of the Europe-Asia Center. With an illustrious career spanning esteemed institutions such as Tongji University, Jiaotong University, Woxsen University, TIAS School for Business and Society, EMLYON Business School, Vienna University of Economics and Business, and most recently Zhejiang University International Business School (ZIBS), Christiane has long been a leading figure in fostering academic collaboration between East and West. As the author or co-author of 12 books and over 50 publications in renowned peer-reviewed academic and managerial journals, Christiane’s expertise seamlessly extends into the corporate world. As such, she has advised multinational giants like SAP, Infineon Technologies, Swisscom, and Volvo Group on their internationalization and agile strategies, in addition to founding Caralan Global, a successful consulting firm. The Europe-Asia Center eagerly anticipates Christiane’s invaluable contributions to spearheading its research efforts and bridging the EU-Asia knowledge gap. A very warm welcome to the team, Christiane. We are excited to thrive together! Mr. Matic Gajsek, Director for Europe at the Europe-Asia Center, expressed his enthusiasm about her appointment, stating: "Prof. Dr. Prange is the perfect fit for both our team and our research ambitions. She truly embodies the bridge between the EU and Asia like few others do, and I cannot wait to see the fruits of this collaboration." For press enquiries: Jonathan Schwestka, Project Coordinator, Europe – Asia Center E-mail: jonathan.schwestka@europe-asia.org