Joint Press Statement following the 5th EU-China High-Level People-to-People dialogue - Main contents

Today the EU i and China met online for the fifth edition of the EU-China High-Level People-to-People dialogue. Launched in 2012, the dialogue brings together decision-makers and practitioners in the areas of education, culture, youth, sport and gender to exchange ideas and good practice on how China and the EU can work together, also addressing areas of common concern.

On the occasion of the meeting, the two sides adopted the following Joint Press Statement:

“The High Level People to People Dialogue (HPPD) was launched in 2012, and makes up the third pillar of EU-China relations, along with the High-Level Strategic Dialogue and the High-Level Economic and Trade Dialogue.

Since then, the HPPD has fostered multi-layered and all-round collaboration with fruitful results. These areas for cooperation play a useful role in deepening EU-China comprehensive strategic partnership over the 45 years since the establishment of formal diplomatic relations between the EU and China.

In the fifth meeting of the dialogue, both sides reviewed the results of the HPPD since the fourth meeting, which has resulted in improved basis for people-to-people level cooperation. They agreed to continue and enhance this cooperation in order to progress further towards a level playing field on which the exchange of ideas and mobility can take place.

In the field of education, both sides noted the particular impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on this sector and the mobility it fosters. They agreed on the need for a resilient education sector that needs to play a strong role in recovery. They also took stock of the individual and institutional involvement of China in the Erasmus+ programme. Both sides agreed to further promote two-way student and researcher mobility on the basis of reciprocity. This can happen by developing links between Erasmus+ opportunities and support from Chinese Government Scholarships and other available resources. It can also be fostered by addressing compatibility at the level of higher education institutions: in this respect both sides welcome the results of the EU-China Tuning Study and its guidelines on credit transfer and credit recognition. It was agreed to encourage joint cultivation of high level talents in higher education institutions in various forms.

In the field of researcher mobility, both sides agreed to boost researchers' mobility in both directions, and to promote the visibility and attractiveness of these mobility opportunities.

In the field of culture, both sides agreed to exchange good practice and strengthen cooperation on cultural heritage, notably its preservation during urban regeneration and renewal. It was also agreed to promote cooperation intellectual exchanges in various forms and fora, such as festivals and book fairs.

In the field of sports, it was agreed to explore the growing international dimension of sports cooperation, including Erasmus+ opportunities, and mutually support and share practice on initiatives to foster uptake of sports and mobility, and on large sporting events such as the Olympic Games.

In the field of youth, both sides recognised the important role that can be played by international cooperation between youth organisations to tackle common challenges. They agreed to foster exchange of ideas between European and Chinese youth organisations on climate change.

In the field of gender, both sides acknowledged the need to address gender-related achievement gaps in school and the problems of gender stereotyping.”

Both sides agreed that in the year of 2022 the sixth round of the HPPD will be held in China.

For more information

EU-China High-Level People-to-People Dialogue