InBev-Baillet Latour Chair of European Union-China Relations

In response to the growing interest of students, scholars and the general public in Europe's relations with China (PRC), the College of Europe, with the financial support of the InBev-Baillet Latour Fund, established the InBev-Baillet Latour Chair of European Union-China Relations in 2008. This Chair is based in the Department of EU International Relations and Diplomacy Studies in Bruges.

Professor Jing Men has been appointed as the first Chairholder of the InBev-Baillet Latour Chair of European Union-China Relations. Her work is supported by a part-time Research Assistant, Veronika Orbetsova.

The Chair offers courses on EU-China relations at the College of Europe in both Bruges and Natolin. It also organises guest lectures, international conferences and promotes multidisciplinary research on the European Union’s relations with China. At the end of each academic year the Chair grants an award for the best Master's thesis on EU-China relations.

In addition to international conferences and other academic exchanges, the Chair contributes to the development of university-level relations between Europe and China by providing a full scholarship that enables one Chinese student to pursue postgraduate studies in Bruges or in Natolin. The College of Europe finances a second full scholarship for a Chinese student.

Since the establishment of the Chair in 2008, a large number of academic events have been organised. The most prominent activities organised to date are: 

• International Conference on “The EU and the Emerging Powers”, co-organised with, European Parliament, Brussels (29-30 April 2013)
• International Conference on “EU-China Soft Diplomacy”, co-organised with the Committee of the Regions, Brussels (18-19 April 2013)
• Seminar on "Mass Communication and EU-China Relations", co-organised with Xinhua News Agency Europe Regional Bureau and Madariaga-College of Europe Foundation, Brussels (18 December 2012)
• International Workshop on "EU-China Relations in a Globalised World", co-organised with the King's College in London (26 October 2012)
• International Conference on “The EU and China – Partners for a Green World” (19-20 April 2012)
• International Conference on “The EU, the US and China: Towards the New International Order?” (22-23 April 2011)
• International Conference on “The EU and China: Partners or Competitors in Africa?” (4-5 February 2010)
• International Workshop on "Prospects and Challenges for EU-China Relations in the 21st Century: The Partnership and Cooperation Agreement" (3-4 April 2009)

Besides the organisation of international conferences, the Chair is also focused on publishing academic research material. Thus far, the Chair has published the following books:

• Men, Jing and Barton, Benjamin (eds.), China and the European Union in Africa: Partners or Competitors?, Farnham: Ashgate. More information.
  The Chinese version of the book is available here.
• Men, Jing and Balducci, Giuseppe (eds.), Prospects and Challenges for EU-China Relations in the 21st Century: The Partnership and Cooperation Agreement, Brussels: P.I.E. Peter Lang. More information.

EU-China Observer

The InBev-Baillet Latour Chair of European Union-China Relations publishes an electronic journal EU-China Observer. It provides a platform for scholars and practitioners interested in exchanging ideas on current topics of EU-China relations in an interdisciplinary perspective.

Contact

InBev-Baillet Latour Chair of European Union-China Relations
EU International Relations and Diplomacy Studies
College of Europe
Dijver 11
BE-8000 Bruges
Fax: +32-50-477250

Chairholder:
Professor Jing Men, Ph.D.
jing [dot] men [at] coleurope [dot] eu
Tel. +32-50-477.258

Research Assistant:
Veronika Orbetsova
veronika [dot] orbetsova [at] coleurope [dot] eu
Tel. +32-50-477.257