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Entering the final stage of the EU-China Youth Policy Dialogue, it is a great pleasure to look back on the activities, dialogues and discussions that took place in view of the project throughout the entire year. Tackling topics at stake for young people in China and the European Union (EU), providing a forum for dialogue, discussion and seeking common ground are important steps in securing a role for young people in policy-making processes in China, the EU and in EU-China relations in particular.

The EU-China Youth Policy Dialogue is a Youth in Action programme of the European Commission’s Executive Agency for Culture and Education, jointly carried out by the European Institute for Asian Studies (EIAS, Brussels) and the Chinese Association for European Studies (CAES, Beijing), with the support of the Guanghua Foundation and the Institute for European Studies at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS, Beijing). The project started in September 2011 and is running until August 2012.

The project was initiated in view of the EU-China Year of Youth and partly took place during the final stage of the Year of Youth in 2011, as well as during the EU-China Year of Intercultural Dialogue in 2012. It also linked up to the Year of Volunteering in 2011 and in this way, the project strengthened initiatives in EU-China relations, as well as on the global level. International cooperation is a key element in building bridges among different realities, collecting and sharing information and best practices, while advocating international campaigns. A frequent and profound communication, in respect of each other’s culture and opinion, should be the basis for such an effective and fruitful cooperation. To achieve synergies in addressing global issues, cooperation provides the tools to act locally in an effective, coordinated and coherent way.

Embarking on the flow of the recently launched EU-China people-to-people dialogue as the third pillar of EU-China relations, personal contacts are the biggest stimulus and inspiration for enhanced mutual understanding, building bridges of friendship and future cooperation between Europeans and Chinese. Young people are not only the future but also the present. They might be young and still inexperienced but their dynamism can be an engine for society, especially in times of global economic crisis.

It is a vital investment for the future, as well as the present to provide young people with insights and the required instruments to take up their role in society, either in politics, civil society, business or any other sector, is. Bringing together young people from China and the EU by setting up a constructive dialogue is an investment in the future of EU-China relations. Europe and China, being key global actors, can only benefit from such a long-term cooperation. Focusing on young people implies investing in that relation, enhancing cultural understanding and personal contacts through friendship, while building up networks worldwide. The EU-China Youth Policy Dialogue endeavoured contributing to this process by addressing specific issues of EU-China relations, identified by the project as priorities for cooperation and understanding. In particular, Climate Change, Environment and Sustainable Development; Urbanisation; Social Policies; Youth Policy and Education were considered vital issues at stake for young people in China and the EU.

Strengthening the people-to-people dialogue between China and the European Union on a youth level, the participants of the EU-China Youth Policy Dialogue prioritised actions and policy measures in the fields highlighted by the project. Policy recommendations and actions to be taken in the different fields and policy domains were drafted and presented by discussing these topics. Although the responsibility of addressing and implementing many of the issues is in the hands of policy-makers, their actions should be inspired by the results of the discussions and outcome of the EU-China Youth Policy Dialogue. The question remains, however, how to ensure these items to be seriously considered by policy-making channels, how to secure the role of young people in EU-China relations on a long term and how to continue constructive ways of dialogue, also beyond the topics addressed by the dialogue this year. Young people can make a difference. Therefore, it is important to provide them with the right tools to do so.

Throughout the year, three main activities took place in view of the project. The first activity, the EU- China Youth Policy Dialogue on Urbanisation, Social Policies and EU-China Relations, took place from 19 to 24 February 2012 in Chengdu, China. The second main event, the EU-China Youth Policy Dialogue on Climate Change, Environmental issues and Youth Policy and Education, took place from 18 to 23 March 2012 in Brussels, Belgium. The final event, the Closing Ceremony in Brussels, which took place on 13-14 June 2012, wrapped up the results provided by the two Youth Policy Dialogues, presenting the draft final publication and providing a forum for discussion on potential actions to be taken, in addition to a follow-up of the project and the future role of young people in EU-China relations.

By empowering young people to take on issues of importance to them and to raise those in the context of EU-China relations and policy-making, the young participants involved in the project were given the opportunity to express out their views and expand the dialogue on EU-China affairs within their own network and environment subsequent to their participation in the project and the dialogue.

Throughout the project, the Dialogue, level of friendship and cooperation between the young participants increased significantly. By working together on a common project towards the same goal, the view of one another and their mutual understanding grew by every step. Working on a people-to- people basis certainly raised the personal involvement of young people in EU-China relations, but also in their act of taking up a more active role in society and in different forms of cooperation. The young people of today will be the leaders of tomorrow. Building on the relations between young Chinese and Europeans, cooperation and understanding will thus be strengthened for the next generations. By embarking on the project, the interest, enthusiasm and quality of the young applicants for the Dialogue was utterly overwhelming. After having received more than 300 applications for the call for papers, the selection of the participants was the most difficult task the project had to face. Yet, the reactions received prove a great interest from young people in EU-China relations. Investing in younger generations will pay off in the next few decades. Providing young people with the adequate tools to become active citizens and to take up their role in policy-making processes is not a simple task. However, this is definitely an important point of attention for all decision-makers.

Tackling the issues of Climate Change, Education, Youth Policy, Urbanisation, Social Policies and EU- China relations in a global perspective, the drafted policy recommendations bring young people one step closer to becoming involved in the decision-making processes,. They are the end result of a deeper process, exploring each other’s background, values, thinking and cultural realities. Nevertheless, providing specific input for policy-making processes and decision-making from the point of view from young participants shows the young participants’ strong interests in shaping their future life. Although not often consulted in decision-making processes, young people certainly have their own perspectives, points of view and voice. The dynamism, creativity and enthusiasm of young people should be stimulated, rather than ignored.

With unemployment rising, education and training are fundamental for the future development of young people. Yet, educational systems require drastic reforms, more flexibility and adaptation to the prerequisites of the job market. Moreover, social systems need to evolve alongside the changes in society. Rethinking urban planning, while conserving cultural heritage and addressing the effects of domestic and external migration, are issues high on the agenda, in order to close the gap between rural and urban areas. Creating liveable cities in Europe and China are the challenges of the future, calling for the promotion of clean energy, green mobility and sustainable growth models. These are only a part of the strong signals sent by the participants of the EU-China Youth Policy Dialogue in Chengdu. Reforms are needed in order to empower the coming generations with the necessary tools to tackle the challenges of the future, challenges that require a stronger cooperation between the EU and China.

Focusing on the future of China-EU relations, the role of young people should not be neglected nor underestimated. Holding a great potential for innovation, dynamism and cooperation, today’s youth can play a significant role in shaping tomorrow’s future. Although the EU-China Youth Policy Dialogue was only able to tackle a limited set of issues, it contributed to consolidating the foundation for deeper cooperation on a Sino-European level and the enlargement of existing networks in the field of youth. The participants are hungry for more and would welcome intensified interchange and further collaboration.

Although it is the responsibility of the Chinese and European governments and institutions to create specific opportunities for young people to take up a more active role in policy processes and become active citizens with broad horizons, these young people themselves have also a responsibility to do so. Providing new openings for exchange between European and Chinese Youth, it is up to young people to engage in EU-China relations and fulfil the role of ambassadors for enhanced cooperation, understanding and the building of friendship between China and the EU on an ongoing basis.

Taking into consideration the different initiatives already in place for dialogues in EU-China relations, the involvement of young people on a policy level is still rather taking place on an ad hoc basis. In order to consolidate the existing initiatives, networks and forms of cooperation, a more structured dialogue and collaboration on the level of Youth in Sino-European relations would be a mutually beneficial step to take. An annual or bi-annual EU-China Youth Summit could play such a role. Integrating the specific field of youth within the existing pillars of EU-China cooperation (Political Dialogue, Economic relations and People-to-People Exchange), would certainly facilitate the process of youth involvement on a wider scale. Educational programmes and exchanges, in addition to dialogues and joint projects in distinctive fields relevant to young people, will also extend the cooperation to the next level.

Looking into the extensive increase of initiatives in the field of China-EU relations and the enthusiasm of young Chinese and Europeans to explore each other’s world, young people should come forward with their own ideas, establishing a bright young future for all. The EU-China Youth Policy Dialogue looks forward to continue the dialogue and to further establish fruitful relations and bridges of friendship between Chinese and European youth, intensifying the cooperation between both regions. We hope that the participants themselves, policy-makers and other stakeholders will continue the process and dialogue, while strengthening the relations, their network and friendships that were built up throughout the activities.

We would like to express great gratitude to everyone who made the project possible, for their excellent support, their outstanding knowledge and expertise provided. In particular, we would like to thank the participants of the Dialogue for their input, enthusiasm and great participation. We look forward to continuing the dialogue, further enhancing understanding, friendship and cooperation between China, the EU and their youth.

The future is bright, and young.

The Final Publication of the EU-China Youth Policy Dialogue will be published and available online, as well as in a printed version, towards the end of the summer.

Thank you to all the participants!

After a year of lively dialogues between young people in both China and the European Union, this year’s EU-China Youth Policy Dialogue came to an end. Building bridges between both continents, the Dialogue focused on different topics that will require future action by policy-makers, young people and society as a whole.

On 13 and 14 June 2012, the participants presented the results of their discussions, their policy recommendations and the draft final publication of the project during the Closing Ceremony in Brussels. An interactive roundtable discussion addressed the different topics of the dialogue, in addition to required follow-up and future actions to be taken.

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Thank you to all the participants!

For more information:
Too much emphasis on English (China Daily)

For more information:
Sustainable consumption in a time of crisis (EESC/Danish Presidency of the Council of the European Union 2012)
Consumerist China: Is it sustainable? (Climate Spectator)

For more information:
Chinese airlines oppose EU carbon tax (China Daily)
Aviation plea to leaders over EU emissions tax (BBC News)

For more information:
China faces civic protests over new nuclear power plants (The Times of India. The Economic Times)
China Nuclear Plants Protested on Fukushima Meltdown Anniversary (NTD)
China nuclear protest builds steam (Financial Times)