Chinese EV companies are gaining a foothold in European markets to sell EVs and to supply European EV manufacturers with locally manufactured EV batteries. The Central and Eastern European region – host to most of the Chinese EV and EV battery projects in Europe – exemplifies the emerging role of China, and presents an exceptional case study for how Chinese firms, technologies, and supply chains helps and hinders Europe’s green transition. By focusing on cases of Chinese EV battery investments in CEE, this podcast episode explores the multi-layered impacts of these investments and offers a nuanced understanding of the intricate dynamics shaping contemporary transitions to electromobility.
In this podcast, hosted by John Seaman, a Research Fellow at the French Institute of International Relations (Ifri), Dr. Ágnes Szunomár shares her recent research findings on the dynamics of Chinese EV projects in Europe.
Dr. Ágnes Szunomár is an associate professor at Corvinus University of Budapest. In addition, she serves as the head of the Research Group on Development Economics at the Institute of World Economics, Centre for Economic and Regional Studies, Hungary.
The podcast can be found on Soundcloud and Spotify, including a link to the publication “From Zero to Hero? Chinese Investment in Electric Vehicle Supply Chains in the Visegrád Four” by Dr. Ágnes Szunomár.
In this episode, we trace China’s Digital Silk Road (DSR) into Western Europe. Dr. Lena Kaufmann unpacks the “downstream effects” of Chinese digital infrastructures in Switzerland—an often-overlooked BRI country. Drawing on her chapter in Seeing China’s Belt and Road (Schatz & Silvey, eds. 2025), she brings the buried materialities of fiber-optic networks into view and rethinks how to conceptualize the DSR—historically, discursively and materially—beyond broad geopolitical narratives. Drawing on ethnographic and archival insights, we discuss how Swiss and Chinese actors have long been entangled in the construction of digital infrastructures, why the DSR is less unidirectional and top-down than often assumed, and how current dynamics—including new U.S. tariffs—may shape its future.
Hosted by Dr. Richard Turcsányi, Assistant Professor at Palacky University Olomouc, Czech Republic; featuring Dr. Lena Kaufmann, SNSF Ambizione Fellow at the Department of Social Anthropology University of Fribourg
The podcast can be found on Soundcloud and Spotify, including a link to the book “Seeing China’s Belt and Road”
On 28 March 2025, the Asia Centre at the University of Tartu hosted a roundtable webinar titled “US-China Evolving Trade Landscape and the EU’s Response”, as part of the ReConnect China project. The invitation-only event brought together experts from academia, policymakers, and business stakeholders, with a particular focus on perspectives from the Nordic-Baltic region.
The discussion explored how recent developments in US-China economic relations—particularly the trade tariffs and protectionist policies introduced during the Trump era—are reshaping the global trade landscape and impacting Europe’s position. Key themes included the EU’s strategic dilemma of remaining economically engaged with China while avoiding overdependence, and the continued lack of a unified EU policy on China, which weakens the bloc’s global leverage.
Several conclusions emerged from the webinar. First, the current geopolitical moment, shaped by Trump-era economic policies, may present an opportunity for the EU and China to rebuild trust and strengthen their engagement through multilateral trade agreements. Second, a major challenge for the EU is how to deepen economic ties with China while avoiding the mistakes of the past and preventing excessive dependency. Third, while the EU is not in a weak position—it possesses strategic economic tools and remains a vital market for Chinese exports—the absence of a coherent EU-wide approach to China remains a significant obstacle. Finally, changes in US-China trade tariffs are already affecting EU companies, with some shifting production to the US. This trend has been noted in the Nordic region, with Ericsson cited as a specific example, raising concerns about long-term implications for the EU’s industrial base.
The roundtable featured insights from the following speakers:
Christer Ljungwall (Chalmers University, Sweden)
Ari Kokko (Copenhagen Business School, Denmark)
Meelis Kitsing (Estonian Business School, Estonia)
Urmas Varblane (Central Bank of Estonia)
The event brought together 19 participants from institutions such as Clingendael, the University of Turku, the Finnish Institute of International Affairs, and the Swedish National China Centre. It also welcomed early-career researchers who contributed fresh perspectives to the discussion.
The webinar not only offered critical insights into the evolving dynamics of EU-China-US trade relations but also contributed to the development of a growing Nordic-Baltic expert network on China-related economic and policy issues.
This episode tackles the complexity of Sino-Serbian relations vis-à-vis the EU from a historical and regional perspective. Serbia is a European EU-candidate country, but it has a long history of advocating for a non-aligned international position. Furthermore, in recent years Serbia has emerged as a key Chinese partner in Europe, with intensified economic and socio-political cooperation and the gradual establishment of a so-called “Ironclad Friendship”.
In 2024, Serbia was one of three countries on Xi Jinping’s European tour and the first in Europe to commit to building a “community with a shared future” with China. Based on extensive empirical research, the development of Sino-Serbian relations is presented with a special emphasis on the role of culture in international relations, e.g. the role of discourse and public opinion.
In this episode hosted by Dr Outi Luova, Senior Instructor Jelena Gledić from the University of Belgrade, Serbia, highlights lessons for a resilient and sustainable future of China-Europe relations and the potential enlargement of the EU.
On Monday 14 April, from 13.15-16.30 (Estonian time), the Estonian Research Council organises an information seminar on “Opportunities for social sciences and humanities in the European Horizon 2025 calls”.
Our partner Elo Süld from University of Tartu was invited to present ReConnect China as a successful example for a Horizon Europe-funded project involving an interdisciplinary team of both humanities and social scientists and including an Estonian institution.
The webinar will take place in Estonian language. All information on the website of ETAG.
– SSH opportunities in the missions work programme: topics with a focus on climate change adaptation, urban regeneration, cancer treatment and soil health (Katrin Saar).
– Elo Süld (University of Tartu): a case study on the Reconnect China project.
The 11th episode of the ReConnect China podcast series dives into China’s vision to become the global leader in Artificial Intelligence by 2030. Central to this mission are key initiatives like the National AI Team, Open Innovation Platforms, and Pilot Innovation Zones. But what exactly are these components, and how do they fit into the bigger picture of China’s AI innovation ecosystem? With private tech giants leading the development, what role do government policies and regulations play? In this episode hosted by Dr Outi Luova, doctoral researcher Junhua Zhu from the University of Turku, Finland, breaks it all down and uncovers the driving forces behind China’s AI ambitions.
Since the beginning of 2024, European students and the wider public have had the opportunity to enroll in open-access Bachelor-level online courses introducing various aspects of contemporary China. These massive open online courses (MOOCs), developed by the ReConnect China project, are now running uninterrupted until the end of 2026. These courses are specifically tailored for disciplines beyond China studies, such as business, political science, and media studies. They have been integrated into the curricula of several European academic programs.
This featured article presents key insights from the two courses offered during the spring term 2024. ReConnect China aims to raise awareness about China among the general public, particularly European youth. To this end, courses focusing on “Politics and Society” and “EU-China Relations” were prepared for the spring term, while courses on the Economy and Popular Culture started in autumn 2024.
Student Feedback on the course “Introduction to Chinese Politics and Society”
Let’s begin with the feedback from students of the recently concluded course “Introduction to Chinese Politics and Society.” Overall, the responses were very positive. “I found this course useful: it deepened my knowledge on the topic” was 4.5 on a scale of 1 to 5, with 5 being the highest. Course participants appreciated the flexibility of the study method, the structure and content of the course, and the design of the course site.
While fully independent online courses are sometimes considered challenging due to difficulties in time management, the respondents appeared to manage their studies well. Fifty out of 81 respondents “strongly agreed” (rating 5) with the statement “This course was easy to complete through independent study,” with the average rating being 4.45. This written response summarizes the comments on the course content and assignments.
“Overall presentation and selection of the course material provided: A++. The material was chosen thoughtfully, the visual presentation and illustration of content was marvellous and very appealing, the arrangement of chosen formats[…] and types of assignments were highly versatile and supportive. I particularly enjoyed the assignments, those were utmost helpful in terms of learning outcomes. […]There´s incredibly much I took with me from this course in such a short time, my personal learning outcome and knowledge gain are gigantic.”
The negative comments mainly pertained to minor technical issues and content-related matters influenced by the disciplinary backgrounds and general interests of the respondents. For example, one respondent mentioned that delving deeply into certain topics, such as the government structure, was unnecessary.
An interesting aspect of the feedback concerned the estimated usefulness of the course. The responses reveal how students from different disciplines perceived the utility of the course. Written comments to the statement “I can use what I have learned as follows” highlighted this variation in perceived usefulness.
– “Having an economics background I found this subject of study really refreshing. “
– “in my further dealing with Chinese culture and history”
– “I am interested in international relations and current issues and I feel that this course helped me to gain a better understanding of the world political situation.”
Current Feedback on the Course “Introduction to EU-China Relations”
The responses in the course “Introduction to EU-China Relations” are similar to those for the “Politics and Society” course. 73 out of 108 respondents “strongly agreed” (rating 5) with the statement “I found this course useful: it deepened my knowledge on the topic”. Participants appreciate the flexibility to plan their schedules independently and the variety of materials and assignments. Respondents also value the course’s relevance to working life, noting that it provides tools for analyzing the complex dynamics of contemporary interdependencies:
“Taking this course has been a great addition to my education, especially as I intend to work in international banking. It has given me invaluable insights into international relations, reflecting the interplay between diplomatic tactics, geopolitical considerations, and economic policies. In the context of global finance, it is essential to understand the nuances of EU-China relations. This course has given me a better understanding of the complex dynamics at work.”
“I am studying International Relations and I think this course was really useful, but I would also recommended it to everyone who is European and interested in the Sino-EU dynamics.”
Integration of MOOCs into Academic Programs
Several education programs have incorporated these courses into their offerings. For instance, the German China competency project CHIN-KoBe funded by the German Ministry of Education and Research, has designated all four courses as mandatory materials. Some university departments have recommended these courses to their students and even included them in their programs or study modules. This integration allows students to incorporate these courses into their degrees.
Jelena Gledic, Senior Instructor at the Faculty of Philology, University of Belgrade encouraged her students to enroll in the Politics and Society course. She summarized her experiences as follows:
“The opportunity to offer students to learn about these relevant topics at their own pace was highly appreciated! Around 30 3rd and 4th year students majoring in Chinese language, literature and culture at the University of Belgrade chose to take part in the pilot, and they were impressed with the wealth of information and contemporary significance of the content. They felt very engaged and enjoyed setting their own schedule while at the same time having the chance to share their experience with others taking the same online course. This content can be seamlessly integrated into courses that deal with similar topics or added as an optional learning opportunity for students who want to learn more than what more traditional Chinese studies curricula offer or who are majoring in other areas but have an interest in China.”
Screenshot from the ReConnect China MOOC on China’s economy
Conclusions
The MOOCs have proven to be valuable tools for European students seeking to enhance their understanding of contemporary China in a global context. Feedback from the courses has been overwhelmingly positive. Students appreciated the flexibility, comprehensive content, and practical relevance of these courses. Minor technical issues and content preferences were noted but did not significantly detract from the overall positive experience.
The courses have been successfully integrated into various academic programs, with some institutions making them mandatory or highly recommended. This integration has allowed students to seamlessly incorporate these MOOCs into their degree programs, enriching their academic and professional perspectives.
We hope that many university departments will consider including these courses in their programs to further enable their students to become acquainted with contemporary China.
For more information, please contact Dr Outi Luova who is in charge of the development of the courses. Outi Luova, Centre for East Asian Studies, University of Turku, Finland, e-mail: outi.luova@utu.fi
At the end of last year, ReConnect China researcher Urmas Hõbepappel of University of Tartu Asia Centre had a great opportunity to meet students from classes 11 and 12 of the Tallinn French Lyceum. The lecture was focused on China-related security concerns vis-a-vis Estonia/Europe, followed by a long Q&A session.
The students participated in an experiment where the same lecture was presented to high school students (age 17-18) and MA students (age 22-25) at the Estonian Military Academy to gauge how well the same information is understood among different levels of education. The results were measured with Slido and show that both groups had similar levels of comprehension (on scale 1-5, 67% of high school students assessed their comprehension with 4 and 33% with 5).
The results of a survey on research security in collaborations between Austria and China reveal a fundamental lack of knowledge—not only about key terms related to research security but also about the current policy strategies and recommendations shaping EU-China research partnerships. In this episode, the authors of the report, Gábor Szüdi and Philipp Brugner, discuss the urgent need for support measures to assess security risks when engaging with potential Chinese partners, including considerations around dual-use aspects.
Gábor Szüdi and Philipp Brugner are researchers and project managers at the Centre for Social Innovation (ZSI) in Vienna, Austria. The podcast is hosted by Dr Outi Luova from the Center for East Asian Studies, University of Turku, Finland.
The first of the ReConnect China school visits in Sweden, carried our by Patrik Andersson from our partner UI, took place on December 18 in Stockholm.
Patrik visited Östra Reals Gymnasium. During his visit, he provided a lecture introducing China’s political and economic systems, along with its foreign policy, to around 20 students from four different classes. He also introduced to the students the ReConnect China MOOCs.
Following the lecture, Patrik answered questions from several students preparing to participate in the UN role-play event organized at the school in the spring.
