Vienna, Beijing 10 April 2025 – The EU and the People’s Republic of China are two of the world’s three largest economies and innovation systems. Both are located on the Eurasian continent – the largest landmass on earth. This year they commemorate 50 years of diplomatic relations. Since its foundation CDA provides an independent, non-partisan platform for dialogue between these two economic and scientific powers. CDA’s goal is to promote peace and development with a focus on innovation, deep-technologies and green transformation in the 21st century. Repeatedly CDA welcomed officials and high representatives of the European Commission, the Delegation of the European Union to China and the European Investment Bank as speakers during the think-tank’s international dialogue formats.

On 7 and 12 November 2024 CDA officially visited the EU Embassy in Beijing following invitations for talks on senior expert level. The focus was on EU-China collaborations re climate change and green transition as well as science, technology and innovation. On 7 November CDA President Alexander G. Welzl met with Katarzyna Zelichowska, Head of Science and Technology Section of the EU Delegation, and Auvo Kaikkonen, Minister Counsellor and Head of Regional Representation of European Investment Bank in China. At the core of the talks were opportunities and framework-conditions provided by the European Commission for Sino-European research collaborations as well as aspects of green finance and infrastructure investments in China. On 12 November President Welzl met with Laurent Bardon, First Counsellor and Head of the Green Transition Section of the EU Delegation. In this meeting the focus was on perspectives of bilateral talks between the EU and China addressing climate change, the EU Green Deal as well as China’s efforts towards zero carbon transition and circular economy. Laurent Bardon also emphasized President Ursula von der Leyen‘s political blessing to the ‚Research Center for Thoughts of Xi Jinping on Ecological Civilisation’.