International Conference "The EU-China Digital Connectivity: Opportunities and Challenges"

On 11 October 2019 in Brussels, the Baillet Latour Chair of EU-China Relations and the EU-China Research Centre, College of Europe, are hosting the international conference "The EU-China Digital Connectivity: Opportunities and Challenges", organised in partnership with the European Economic and Social Committee.

Digital connectivity, the digital economy and cybersecurity have all been recent and growing policy issues between the European Union and China. In both Europe and China, businesses and governments are determined to invest heavily in advanced technologies such as high-performance computing (HPC or supercomputers), fifth generation telecommunications (5G), artificial intelligence and robotics, and to unlock their potential for economic and social benefits. The ICT sector and the broader digital economy thus are strategic priorities for both the EU and China and play an expanding role in their bilateral relations.

Overall, digital connectivity arguably is an area of both cooperation and competition in relations between the European Union and China. Beijing and Brussels are increasingly relying on each other to make their digital economies grow, and joint development strategies can give them an edge in exploiting the full potential of advanced digital technologies. On the other hand, a number of economic, political and even ethical issues do not merely hinder further cooperation, but threaten to make "systemic rivalry" expand to the digital sector.

In this context, this international conference is gathering a wide range of top-level international academics, practitioners and policymakers, to discuss and understand how to promote the establishment of digital connectivity between the European Union and China against this mixed background of opportunities and hurdles. Focusing on the core overarching topics of cyber security, digital economy, and digital society, the three envisaged panels will seek to explore where EU and Chinese strategic priorities stand in this sector and to propose a development path for a digital connectivity that advances mutual interests.

This conference is open to the public, but registration, using the form below, is required before 4 October, 12:00 (noon).

For questions and further information, please contact: eu-china-conferences [at] coleurope.eu

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