4th EU-China High Level People-to-People Dialogue, 13-14 November 2017

Further information:

The two parties decided to intensify cultural cooperation by exploiting city-to-city interactions but also through the EU pilot project Creative Tracks and the Atelier for young cultural and festival managers. They also agreed to make best use of synergies between the European Year of Cultural Heritage and the China-EU Year of Tourism, both held in 2018.

The representatives took stock of progress achieved under Erasmus+ mobility actions between the EU and China. In the fields of research and innovation, both parties agreed to boost researchers' mobility through Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions. In the framework of the dialogue on gender equality, both sides discussed how to improve women's economic empowerment and work-life balance. Finally, the role of youth in cultural diplomacy was the focus of the youth seminar; whereas in the field of sport, physical activity, sport education and the mobility of coaches were identified as the main areas for future cooperation.

Background information:

The aim to broaden the scope cooperation between China and the European Union was confirmed in the Joint Communication on 'Elements for a new EU strategy on China' from 2016. The Communication specifically mentions higher education, the creative and cultural industries and tourism as well as civil society development and migration/mobility.

The High Level People-to-People Dialogue (HPPD), held every two years, is the overarching mechanism which accommodates all EU-China joint initiatives in the field of people to people exchanges. The first round was held in April 2012. It led in particular to the launch of the EU-China Higher Education Platform for Cooperation and Exchange. The second HPPD was held in September 2014. One of the immediate follow-up actions was the launch of the EU-China Tuning initiative. The third meeting took place in September 2015. The event aimed to celebrate the 40th anniversary of EU-China diplomatic relations.

The fourth edition of the EU-China High Level People-to-People Dialogue took place on 13-14 November 2017. This year's exchanges focused on culture, but education, gender equality, youth and, for the first time, sport were also discussed.