ReConnect China Policy Brief 28: Middling corridor risks 18 November 2025 - China’s Belt and Road Initiative has improved infrastructure connections with the country’s neighbours and so strengthened the gravitational pull of its economy. Chinese projects in Central Asia – in particular its railway and pipeline projects – have led to rapid… Read more
Reconnect China Policy Brief 27: From Fragmentation to Integration 18 November 2025 - Executive summary: The European Union (EU) confronts a profound and escalating challenge to its democratic and information integrity from Foreign Information Manipulation and Interference (FIMI), particularly emanating from China. Since around 2020, China’s FIMI activities in Europe have grown in… Read more Reconnect China Policy Brief 26: Evolving patterns of China’s involvement in African infrastructure 17 October 2025 - During the 2010s, China became one of the leading connectivity players in Africa – if not the most important one. This policy brief focuses on a key aspect of China’s approach towards African continent – the provision of loans linked… Read more
Specialist Course on ‘50 Years of EU–China Relations’: Builds Next-Generation Expertise 24 September 2025 - From 9 to 11 September 2025, the European Association for Chinese Studies (EACS), together with the Horizon Europe project ReConnect China coordinated by Ghent University, hosted a specialist course for Early Career Researchers (ECRs) at Ghent University. The course was… Read more Reconnect China Policy Brief 25: Europe’s response to the Chinese People’s Liberation Army in West Africa 13 September 2025 - Executive summary: Political changes in West Africa in recent years have led to a sudden end of French military presence. It is not just Russia that has expanded its clout. Beijing engages closely with the new juntas in West Africa.… Read more
Research from ReConnect China at the EU-SPRI and ENTRANCE conferences in Germany 4 September 2025 - Research results from our work area on EU-China cooperation in science, technology and innovation were presented in two conferences in Germany before the summer. Philipp Brugner from our partner ZSI delivered these presentations, drawing on the work done with his… Read more
Announcing first keynote speakers and topics of the 2025 ReConnect China conference 30 July 2025 - We are happy to announce a first update on the forthcoming 2nd Europe-China Knowledge Forum (conference) hosted by our partner Clingendael Institute in The Hague, Netherlands. The conference takes place on October 9 and is jointly organised between the ReConnect… Read more
Reconnect China Policy Brief 24: Local Conditions 30 June 2025 - Executive summary: This policy brief critically examines the concept of “New Quality Productive Forces According to Local Conditions” (NPF) which aims to optimise resource allocation and foster technological advancement, thereby positioning China as a global leader in innovation. This approach… Read more
High-Level Symposium Marks 50 Years of EU-China Relations 18 June 2025 - The historic Palais des Académies in Brussels hosted a landmark event on 12 May 2025—the High-Level Think Tanks Symposium titled “EU-China at 50: Prospects for the Future.” This exclusive gathering of thought leaders and policymakers celebrated five decades of diplomatic… Read more Reconnect China Policy Brief 23: Drinking Xi Wine 11 June 2025 - Executive summary: At the opening of the ‘Summit of the Future Action Days,’ held in New York on 20 and 21 September 2024, United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres stated the following: “Four years ago […] we saw our multilateral institutions… Read more