A new charm offensive? Unpacking Xi’s visit to Europe

The Atlantic Council’s Europe Center will host a virtual conversation on “A new charm offensive? Unpacking Xi’s visit to Europe.” This conversation will take place on Friday, May 3 from 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. ET.

The European Union describes China as a three-part “partner for cooperation, an economic competitor and a systemic rival.” Now, growing concerns in Europe over strategic dependencies on China, Europe’s vulnerability to economic coercion, and China’s ties to Russia have sparked debate on the future of Europe’s relationship with Beijing. Suspicion over Chinese efforts to flood the European market with cheap exports have further caused Brussels to open investigations into China’s economic practices.

At the same time, Beijing has stepped up its diplomatic efforts with Europe. President Xi Jinping will have talks in Paris, Belgrade, and Budapest on May 5-10, and Xi recently hosted German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte in China for discussions on their respective relationships with China. Meanwhile, the United States is pushing greater coordination with Europe on a transatlantic approach to China. All the while, elections in Europe and the United States add another layer of uncertainty for Europe’s and the United States’ future relations with China.

Ahead of the upcoming European elections and the new European Commission mandate, what will be the future of the EU’s China strategy be amidst increased great power competition, and what implications will this hold for transatlantic relations? Is the EU doing enough to bolster its economic security and information integrity?

This event is part of the Atlantic Council Europe Center’s Transatlantic Horizons Series, which seeks to outline a productive relationship for the United States and Europe for 2025 and beyond.