Navigating Local Relations with China in Europe

European cities and regions have developed hundreds of formal partnerships with counterparts in the People's Republic of China (PRC) over the past three decades. Sister city and friendship city agreements span nearly every corner of the continent, yet relatively little systematic data exists on what these partnerships involve, how they have evolved, and what risks and opportunities they present for local governments today.

This webinar will present comprehensive research and data to address that gap. Guest speakers from the University of Łódź (Poland) will present findings from the most comprehensive survey of China-EU relations at the local and regional level. The study covers the scale and breadth of partnerships across Europe, coordination gaps between local and national levels, and the structural asymmetry between PRC and European approaches to city diplomacy. GMF staff will contribute findings from the organization's own research, and the session will include a discussion of the shifting landscape in the years since the original research was conducted.

This event is part of the ongoing Navigating Local Relations with China in Europe (NAVLO) webinar series, which convenes researchers, practitioners, and policymakers engaged in the strategic dimensions of PRC engagement at the local and regional level. NAVLO is GMF-led initiative that aims to improve awareness and understanding of PRC city and state activity; support evidence-based risk mitigation; and strengthen coordination among local, regional, national, and European stakeholders.