GlobalNeighboursmeetsdelegationfromChinaInstituteofInternationalStudies(CIIS)

On 25 June 2026, Global Neighbours welcomed a delegation from the China Institute of International Studies (CIIS) in Vienna for an open and forward‑looking exchange on China‑Europe relations and the evolving multipolar international order.

The discussion was led by Mr. Liu Feitao, Vice President of CIIS and Secretary General of the China National Committee for Pacific Economic Cooperation, accompanied by Mr. Bu Shaohua, Deputy Director and Associate Research Fellow in the Department for European Studies, Mr. Yang Bowen, Assistant Research Fellow in the same department, and Mr. Xie Bo, Research Fellow.

During the meeting, Mr. Siddharth Chatterjee introduced Global Neighbours as a “think‑and‑do‑tank” dedicated to advancing Track 2.0 diplomacy — complementing official channels through independent research, expert dialogue, and practical initiatives such as the Tracks to the Future programme, the Breakfast Club, fellowship schemes, and the Global Neighbours Insight publication series.

He noted that both institutions share common interests in fostering constructive engagement amid growing geopolitical complexity, and highlighted the importance of dialogue in a shifting global landscape where multipolarity is becoming more pronounced.

The conversation also touched on the current state of China‑Europe relations, with the CIIS delegation explaining that China views Europe as one of the important poles in the multipolar world, a major civilization, and a significant economic market, while observing that European approaches towards China have often been less consistent and at times framed through the lens of competition rather than partnership. Both sides agreed that many misunderstandings stem from limited or one‑sided narratives, and identified a shared goal to promote balanced, informed discussions and strengthen mutual understanding.

Global Neighbours proposed collaboration through expert exchanges, joint research, contributions to its publications, and joint activities under the Tracks to the Future initiative.

The CIIS delegation drew attention to the China‑CEEC Global Partnership Center in Sofia, which is co‑chaired by CIIS and a Bulgarian research institution, as a potential platform for working together. They also confirmed their participation in the upcoming event “China and the European Union: Challenges, Dynamics and Multilateralism in a Transforming Landscape” at the Bruno Kreisky Forum.

Global Neighbours Team with the CIIS delegation

At the end of the meeting, both sides agreed that sustained dialogue and cooperation are essential to building trust and contributing to stable relations between Europe and Asia.