European Guanxi Podcast

What happens when the world’s most ambitious infrastructure initiative hits geopolitical headwinds, green scrutiny, and digital competition?In this episode of the European Guanxi Podcast, host Shristi More sits down with Keren Zhu —Assistant Professor of Political Science at Davidson College and co-host of the Belt and Road Podcast — to unpack how China’s Belt and Road Initiative is transforming in 2025. From shifting strategies and rising tech tensions to green pledges and South–South partnerships, this is a timely conversation on power, perception, and the global race for connectivity.Is the BRI evolving or unraveling? And where does Europe stand in this recalibrated global map? Tune in for sharp insights and honest reflections.Few of the Papers by Dr. Keren Zhu to reflect upon :https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=uyRvY8kAAAAJ&hl=en&oi=srahttps://thepeoplesmap.net/globalchinapulse/a-decade-of-environmental-change/https://www.newsecuritybeat.org/2023/10/chinese-rail-exports-environmental-dilemma-economic-gains-green-2/https://www.rand.org/pubs/working_papers/WR1338.htmlThis episode was hosted by Shristi More

Ever felt like you only know one side of China?Join us as Simone Pieranni, journalist and founder of China Files, peels back the layers—sharing what it meant to live, report, and observe a changing China from within. From the quiet rhythms of daily life to the undercurrents of censorship and youth discontent, this episode offers a rare, human portrait of a nation in transition.Step beyond the headlines.

Why is Shangri-La Dialogue Asia’s most crucial defense summit?In this compelling episode of the European Guanxi Podcast, we unpack the Indo-Pacific’s rising strategic tensions with renowned Indo-Pacific and China expert, Philippe Le Corre. As a private forum for conversation and dialogue, Shangri-La Dialogue is both a space for de-escalation but also strategic posturing. As U.S-China competition intensifies, ASEAN countries balance fragility with ambition, and Europe eyes a new role in the region’s future, tune in with us for a fresh take on the forces reshaping the Indo-Pacific order.Big Questions. Fresh takes. Expert perspectives.This episode was hosted by Alixia Brule.  

What does fortitude (韧) look like in an era defined by war, climate upheaval, and rapid tech shifts?Recorded in Lingshui, Hainan, this special episode captures the energy of more than 100 global delegates — from China to Mozambique — as they explore resilience through the lens of international relations, AI, ecology, culture, and youth leadership.Can AI foster peace? How do young voices cut through the noise? And what role does China’s cultural influence play on the world stage?Fresh takes. Big questions. Unfiltered reflections.Press play and redefine what fortitude means to you.This episode was hosted by Dounia Al Jijkli

Is the EU going green—or just getting strategic? In this fiery episode, Irina Patrahau (Strategic Analyst & Chair, Energy Security & Critical Minerals, HCSS) and Erlend Ek (Research Strategy & Energy Lead, China Policy) break down Europe’s latest climate moves, China’s clapbacks, and why the race for lithium and rare earths is heating up fast.We’re talking:⚡️ CRMA vs China’s mineral grip🌍 CBAM—climate tool or trade weapon?🚗 Trade wars, EV slowdowns & green protectionism🤝 Can climate cooperation survive the geopolitics?Big questions, bold takes, and a global tug-of-war over the green future— Is seen as a "Burden" or an "Opportunity". Tune in for a ride through policy, power, and planetary priorities.This episode was hosted by Shristi More

China is more than just its mega-cities. In this episode, we join Clémentine Pippa Ebel—trail runner, researcher, and China strategist—on a journey through second, third, and fourth-tier cities. From the lively streets of Shenyang and the entrepreneurial spirit of Northern Guangdong to the shifting traditions of Meizhou and the vanishing villages of Guangdong, discover the heart of local China through stories you won’t find in mainstream headlines.Do make sure to check Pippa's LinkedIn profile to learn more about her stories: linkedin.com/in/clementine-pippa-ebelThis episode was hosted by Xaver Haack

China’s rise is reshaping global power, and nowhere is this more evident than in its approach to Taiwan. In this episode, we sit down with renowned China expert Frans-Paul van der Putten to unravel the deep historical roots of China’s ambitions, the shifting geopolitics of the Indo-Pacific, and what his upcoming book, China Resurrected, reveals about the future. From colonial legacies to modern power struggles, we explore how history fuels today’s policies—and why the world should pay attention. Tune in for an insightful, thought-provoking conversation that challenges conventional narratives.The China Resurrected, e-book will be out on 12th June 2025, and the hard copy version on 10th July 2025. Do make sure to mark the dates.This podcast was hosted by Shiqing and Xaver .

The race to 2030 is on—but is the global push for sustainability truly about progress, or is it reshaping global power dynamics?In this episode, we sit down with Douglas Anderson, Head of the European Guanxi Editorial Team, to explore how major players—China, the EU, and global institutions—are leveraging sustainability initiatives like the Global Development Initiative (GDI) and the Global Gateway to expand their influence.🔍 What’s on the agenda?✅ The geopolitics of food security & aid✅ The competition over green financing✅ The race for climate leadership✅ The battle for digital & industrial dominanceJoin us for an insightful discussion on how international summits, economic strategies, and sustainability policies are shaping the future.🎧 Tune in nowAlso do make sure to check out Douglas and Sardor's latest editorial about "Shifting Dymanics in Central Asia : the security landscape amid the Ukraine Conflict " . The link to it has been attached belowhttps://cabar.asia/en/shifting-dynamics-in-central-asia-the-security-landscape-amid-the-ukraine-conflict#This episode was hosted by Shristi More and edited by Xaver Haack

Chinese idioms (成语) play a crucial role in shaping political rhetoric, often appearing repeatedly in speeches by leaders. Take, for instance, one of Xi Jinping’s favorites: 当家作主 ("Be the master of one’s own house"), which he has used an astonishing 43 times. But what do these idioms really mean, and why are they so significant?In this episode, we dive into the most frequently used idioms by Chinese leaders, uncover their meanings, and explore the historical and political contexts behind them. Stay tuned until the end—we’ve got a special quiz waiting for you!This episode was hosted by Xaver and Dounia

Every step Mr. Trump has taken in the realm of policy dynamics has sent a shockwave for both enemies and allies. From notoriously withdrawing for Green New Deal to claiming Greenland, the second Trump Administration kept everyone on their tiptoe and proves to be challenging for all the policymakers.To give expert advice on the subject, we have Dr. Jagannath Panda join us on today's episode. Prof. Jagannath Panda heads the Stockholm Center for South Asian and Indo-Pacific Affairs (SCSA-IPA) at the Institute for Security and Development Policy. He is also the executive editor for ISDP. He is also the director for Europe-Asia Research Cooperation at the Yokosuka Council on Asia-Pacific Studies (YCAPS) and a senior fellow at The Hague Centre for Strategic Studies (HCSS) in the Netherlands. Panda has testified to the U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission at the U.S. Congress on “China and South Asia.” As a senior expert on China, East Asia, and Indo-Pacific affairs. This Episode was hosted by Shristi More and edited by Xaver Haack.If you like our episode to levave us a comment or review on spotify

The Chinese New Year, also known as the Spring Festival, starts on the 29th of January, and official holidays will last until February 4th. In 2024, approximately 9 billion trips were made across the country during the 40-day period from January 14 to February 22. This is why the Spring Festival travel rush, known as "chunyun", is recognized as the world's largest annual mass migration. This year, 2025, is symbolized by the snake, a creature associated with transformation, renewal, and spiritual growth in Chinese mythology. In this episode of the European Guanxi Podcast, we will explore the economic and cultural significance of Chinese New Year with  Dr. Martin Šebeňa . This podcast is produced by Shristi More and hosted by Alixia Brule.

From the European Parliament Election, to new de-risking strategies and anti-dumping measures, 2024 has been an eventful year between China and the European Union. Today we will discuss how these relations unfolded in terms of Economics, Climate governance, and foreign policy. For this, and much more, this is the European Guanxi podcast, stay tuned. This Episode was hosted by Xaver Haack

In this Episode of the EG Podcast we are joined by Filip Šebok from China Observers in Central and Eastern Europe (CHOICE) to delve into the EU's Indo-Pacific Strategy.This Episode includes: - The Indo-Pacific Strategy - China in the Indo-Pacific- CEE countries & their interests in the StrategySpecial feature: CHOICE Summer SchoolThis Episode is hosted by Paulina Rios Maya, Directed by Arturo Simone, and Edited by Mahmoud Javadi. Special thank to Filip Šebok, CHOICE, our team of researchers and the European Guanxi Community. Find us on Instagram and LinkedIn, Share our work at #EuropeanGuanxiPodcastEG link: ⁠https://www.europeanguanxi.com/⁠LinkTree: https://linktr.ee/europeanguanxi20?utm_source=linktree_profile_share

In this Episode of the EG Podcast our staff explores the fascinating events of 2023 in EU-China relations, as we brace for this upcoming year of 2024. This Ep includes: Economy: - EU-China Summit- De-Risking Society: - China's dissent - Crisis Management in the EUForeign Policy:- China's Belt and Road Initiative BRI- Ukraine and Cop28This episode is hosted by Paulina Rios Maya, Carrie Li, & Sofia Dellafiore. Edited by Mahmoud Javadi. Directed by Arturo Simone. Special thank to our team of researchers and the European Guanxi Community. Find us on Instagram and LinkedIn and re-post our work at #EuropeanGuanxiPodcastEG link: https://www.europeanguanxi.com/LinkTree: https://linktr.ee/europeanguanxi20?utm_source=linktree_profile_share

In this third edition of the EG Explainer, our host Carrie Li is joined in conversation by Dr Peyman Khaljani, a young academic specialising in EU constitutional law and PhD. Together they explore these EP elections results and democratic deficit. Let's discuss some alternatives! EGYC conference: https://www.europeanguanxi.com/egyc2024 This Episode is Hosted by Carrie Li, and Edited by Arturo Simone. Special thank to our guest Peyman, as well as our team of researchers and the European Guanxi Community. Find us on Instagram and LinkedIn, Share our work at #EuropeanGuanxiPodcast EG link: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.europeanguanxi.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ LinkTree: https://linktr.ee/europeanguanxi20?utm_source=linktree_profile_share

In this second edition of the EG Explainer, Pod Director Arturo Simone is joined in conversation by Mr. Mattia Peroni, a young academic specialised in East Asian Politics and Economics. Together we discuss the motives behind China's Belt and Roads Initiative (BRI) between Soft Power and Debt Trap Diplomacy. EGYC conference: https://www.europeanguanxi.com/egyc2024 This Episode is Hosted, Directed and Edited by Arturo Simone. Special thank to our guest Mattia, as well as our team of researchers and the European Guanxi Community. Find us on Instagram and LinkedIn, Share our work at #EuropeanGuanxiPodcast EG link: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.europeanguanxi.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ LinkTree: https://linktr.ee/europeanguanxi20?utm_source=linktree_profile_share

In this first edition of the EG Explainer, Pod Director Arturo is joined in conversation by Mr. Juan N. Garcia-Nieto, Editor in Chief of the EG Editorial Team. Today we prepare for the upcoming EP elections of June 6-9 with an exploration into the various Political Groups of the European Parliament, and their respective stance on China. EGYC conference: https://www.europeanguanxi.com/egyc2024 This Episode is Hosted, Directed and Edited by Arturo Simone. Special thank to our guest Juan, as well as our team of researchers and the European Guanxi Community. Find the work of our Editorial Team at: https://www.europeanguanxi.com/articles Find us on Instagram and LinkedIn, Share our work at #EuropeanGuanxiPodcast EG link: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.europeanguanxi.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ LinkTree: https://linktr.ee/europeanguanxi20?utm_source=linktree_profile_share

Welcome to our very first episode of the European Guanxi Podcast! Each month we discuss current news events, review books and articles, or conduct interviews with China experts to help you, our listeners, better understand China and Sino-European relations.In today’s episode, Ardita Osmani and Karolin Hofmann summarise some of the key events that shaped EU-China relations in the last year - from the controversies surrounding the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics to China’s “pro-Russian” neutrality in the Ukraine War to the Taiwan visit of U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.For the second part of the episode, we invited Alicia García Herrero to share her thoughts on how the Ukraine War has impacted Sino-European relations. Miss García Herrero is a Senior Fellow at European think-tank BRUEGEL, the Chief Economist for Asia Pacific at Natixis, and a non-resident Senior Fellow at the East Asian Institute (EAI) of the National University Singapore (NUS).Lastly, European Guanxi member Prisca Mirchandani interviews two young China researchers who published articles on end-of-the-year festivities in China and the impact of COVID-19 on Chinese people’s consumer behaviour, respectively.We hope you enjoy listening and would love for you to tune in to our next episode!Do not forget to check out European Guanxi on Instagram, Facebook, or LinkedIn and subscribe to stay up to date with our webinars and blog posts.Also, feel free to ask us any questions that you may have regarding China or EU-China relations. We will gladly try to answer them.Please find below links to relevant articles and further reading.Links to the articles Prisca discussed:Valeria Medeghini: https://www.europeanguanxi.com/post/end-of-the-year-festivals-in-chinaVania Tabanelli: https://www.europeanguanxi.com/post/how-covid-19-has-impacted-chinese-consumers-habitsLinks we have retrieved information from:https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/eu-phase-out-covid-tests-travellers-china-2023-02-16/https://www.nytimes.com/2023/02/09/us/politics/china-spy-balloon-program.htmlMERICS China Forecast 2023: https://merics.org/en/short-analysis/chinas-precarious-path-forward-insights-merics-china-forecast-2023

How is Southeast Asia navigating the age of automation and great power competition?In this episode of the European Guanxi Podcast, we sit down with Dr. Brian Wong, HKU-100 Assistant Professor at the University of Hong Kong, to explore how Southeast Asia is developing in an era of rapid technological change and intensifying geopolitical rivalry.Moving beyond traditional export-led manufacturing models, rethinking trade partnerships with the EU, and managing the pressures of Sino-American strategic competition, we unpack how Southeast Asia is shaping its future while striving for growth and strategic autonomy.

In this Special edition of the EG Podcast, we explore the themes of this year's EGYConference on EU-China relations in the field of Environmental and Climate Action.We discuss the pillars of Competition, Cooperation, and Autonomy that characterise much of the challenges and opportunities between Europe and China. Our Podcast Director Arturo Simone walks through the Conference in Brussels at KAS, to interview speakers and participants. These also include Blanca Marabini San Martin, President of the European Guanxi. Special thank also to the Konrad Adenauer Stiftung, Shristi More, Douglas Anderson, Stefano Sartorio, and Agnes Monti.EGYC conference: https://www.europeanguanxi.com/egyc2024This Episode is hosted by Arturo Simone and Shristi More. Special thank to our team of researchers and the European Guanxi Community. Find us on Instagram and LinkedIn, Share our work at #EuropeanGuanxiPodcastEG link: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.europeanguanxi.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkTree: https://linktr.ee/europeanguanxi20?utm_source=linktree_profile_share