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EU–China Green Governance Dialogue
European Think Tanks Engage Key Chinese Institutions in Beijing and Sichuan

From 13 to 19 October 2025, the Hanns-Seidel-Stiftung (HSS) welcomed its sixth delegation under the EU - China Think Tank Engagement on Green Governance project, financed by the European Union. The visit brought together seven European think tank experts as well as five board members from CONCITO, Germanwatch, Agora Verkehrswende, IEEP, and the France-China Climate Initiative, marking one of the most senior expert group compositions since the project began. Over the course of the week in Beijing and Chengdu, the delegation engaged with high-level Chinese institutions to deepen cooperation on climate policy, the clean and just energy transition, and green governance.

A particular highlight was the exchange with the Development Research Center (DRC) of the State Council and the Counsellors’ Office of the State Council, where discussions focused on the clean and just energy transition, circular economy governance, non-CO₂ greenhouse gas mitigation, and future avenues for EU - China cooperation on climate change. These dialogues underscored a mutual interest in bridging policy perspectives and addressing misperceptions through transparent data, coordinated governance mechanisms, and regular knowledge exchange.

Opening by EU Ambassador Jorge Toledo

Opening by EU Ambassador Jorge Toledo

At the project’s central conference in Beijing, opened by EU Ambassador Jorge Toledo, keynote speakers Artur Runge-Metzger and Prof. Dr. Teng Fei delivered an impressive overview of the global and bilateral climate agenda. They emphasized four priority areas for the coming years:

  • Developing the 2035 NDC, acknowledging existing gaps, and launching initiatives to help close them.
  • Intensifying joint technical capacity building and the exchange of promising policies and measures.
Keynote speech by Prof. Dr. Teng Fei

Keynote speech by Prof. Dr. Teng Fei

  • Ensuring open and predictable green trade and investment to lower the global cost of the transition.
  • Reducing climate-finance risk premia in developing countries through innovative joint approaches.

These strategic orientations resonated throughout subsequent meetings with the Ministry of Natural Resources, national research centers, Institute for Global Decarbonization Progress (iGDP), and academic institutions. Participants highlighted both the opportunities and challenges inherent in EU - China climate cooperation. Shared themes included the importance of reliable data, sectoral decarbonization pathways, just transition strategies, and the interplay between energy security, industrial competitiveness, and long-term climate goals.

The delegation also gained first-hand insights into China’s applied energy transition during a field visit in Sichuan Province. At the Chengdu TSB Test Track, delegates examined low-carbon urban mobility innovation, while at the Sichuan Energy Internet Research Institute and Tongwei Group they explored renewable integration, smart energy systems, and sustainable solar manufacturing practices. These site visits provided a concrete understanding of how national climate policy translates into regional action and industrial transformation.

Throughout the mission, participants observed notable differences in narratives, policy drivers, and institutional structures between the EU and China. Yet the exchanges also revealed a strong interest on both sides in maintaining constructive dialogue, strengthening think tank collaboration, and identifying areas for medium- and long-term cooperation. Engagements with Chinese and international NGOs added a valuable civil society dimension, illustrating how bottom-up initiatives complement national policy frameworks.

The overarching conclusion of the visit was clear: the path to effective climate cooperation lies in sustained encounters, mutual learning, and open dialogue. As the implementing organization of this EU-funded project, HSS will continue to facilitate these exchanges and support evidence-based engagement between European and Chinese partners in the field of green governance.