Vassiliou to visit China for culture talks

The EU and China plan to work more closely together in education, culture and youth policy, the European Commission has announced. New areas of collaboration will also be sought in gender equality and violence against women.

A ‘High-Level-People-to-People Dialogue’ (HPPD) will take place between the EU and China, which aims to build trust and understanding between the two regions’ peoples. Androulla Vassiliou, European Commissioner for Education, Culture, Multilingualism and Youth, will meet Chinese Vice-Premier Liu Yandong in Beijing on 6 September to take stock of the HPPD’s achievements since its launch two years ago.

Speaking ahead of her visit, Vassiliou said: “The High-Level People-to-People Dialogue does what it says: it brings people together to solve challenges we have in common and to deepen understanding and friendship. By working together, the EU and China can raise awareness of issues in education and culture which are, for example, evident in the inequalities faced by many women in our respective regions in their daily lives.”

During her talks with Vice-Premier Liu, the commissioner is expected to highlight the opportunities available to Chinese students and researchers through the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions and Erasmus+. The two leaders will also discuss other areas where the EU and China could expand co-operation, including greater participation of Chinese institutions in the U-Multirank university ranking and a new project to promote cultural festivals in China.

Vassiliou and Liu Yandong took part in the first round of the HPPD in Brussels in 2012, signing a joint declaration and agreeing plans for follow-up actions. In 2013, the two parties adopted the EU-China 2020 Strategic Agenda for Co-operation, which included a chapter devoted to people-to-people exchanges.