• Foreign Policy

In this roundtable, scholars from Fudan University and several invited guests debate the degree of convergence between U.S. and EU outlooks on China, the likely trajectory of EU trade and investment ties with China, and what type of role the EU should play in China’s international strategy going forward. Most of the scholars argue that Europe-China relations have deteriorated over the past years. However, many appear optimistic that there is considerable room for EU-China cooperation going forward, on matters from the green energy transition, to supporting developing countries weather shocks from COVID-19, to the Ukraine war. On the Russia-Ukraine war, one scholar suggests that a “substantial push by China to end the Russia-Ukraine conflict would help greatly to improve China-EU relations,” while others suggest that the degree to which the EU leads a resolution will be a “weathervane of its strategic autonomy” and determine whether the EU can avoid being marginalized in China’s foreign strategy.

• Economics

In response to economic uncertainty and instability in China brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic and the Ukraine crisis, this State Council Notice outlines several measures aimed at stabilizing the economy, including adjustments to fiscal and monetary policies, as well as directives to secure supply chains and energy supplies. Notices such as these are promulgated to all levels of government throughout the country as policy directives.