Challenging simplistic narratives, the guests of this episode, Professor Bart Dessein and Professor Jeremy Garlick, argue that Europe must move beyond Cold War thinking, engage China as an equal interlocutor, and listen more carefully to Global South perspectives. To make their case, the discussion traces the historical roots of China's global ambitions, from the "century of humiliation" to Xi Jinping's four global initiatives, and examines how the Belt and Road Initiative, BRICS, and South-South cooperation connect — and where tensions persist. The speakers also explore how the EU's "partner, competitor, systemic rival" framing shapes — and sometimes distorts — its relationship with Beijing. Both scholars highlight how the same words, such as democracy, stability, and development, can carry very different meanings in European and Chinese contexts. They offer concrete proposals for moving forward, from joint debt relief efforts to welcoming Chinese EV manufacturing in Europe, and make a case for dialogue, empathy, and cultural awareness over lecturing and confrontation. Host: Zhao Huanyu, senior researcher and scientific manager of Reconnect China, and an adjunct professor at the VUB in Brussels Guests: Professor Bart Dessein, scientific coordinator of ReConnect China, senior full professor at Ghent University, and a senior associate at the Egmont Institute in Brussels. Professor Jeremy Garlick, director of the Jan Masaryk Center of International Studies, Prague University of Economics and Business Transcript: https://www.utu.fi/fi/ajankohtaista/podcast/reconnect
