February 20, 2025. Shanghai – Ambassador of the European Union to China Jorge Toledo attended a forum on the CEIBS Shanghai campus today, offering detailed and insightful remarks into the current relationship between China and the European Union along with an analysis of its past accomplishments and future trajectory.

For CEIBS, the event signified the beginning of a year marking the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and the European Union. One of the world’s most important diplomatic relationships, decades of cooperation and trade between the two sides has contributed in no small part to remarkable development and gains in prosperity over the past five decades. CEIBS itself has had its own role to play in this story. As the only school co-founded by government-to-government collaboration between the Chinese government and the European Union, it has directly facilitated a large amount of the exchanges between China and the EU that have allowed the relationship to flourish as well as weather times of turbulence.

As such, CEIBS will mark this milestone with a special series of events throughout 2025, inviting and fostering open exchange between Chinese and European leaders in the academic, diplomatic and business communities. These forums and symposiums will not only celebrate a successful 50-year partnership but frankly assess the current state of the relationship and attempt to chart a course forward, with the help of the insights and experience of various leading figures from China, Europe and the rest of the world.

The first event of this initiative, a special edition of the CEIBS OUTLOOK Series, invited His Excellency Ambassador Jorge Toledo to the CEIBS Shanghai campus to give a speech and participate in an open discussion with members of the CEIBS community. The event was also attended by 16 Consuls General in Shanghai from multiple European nations, as well as alumni from the school’s MBA, Global EMBA, DBA, Hospitality EMBA programmes and more.

With many of the world’s most important diplomatic relationships in a moment of flux, it is more vital than ever to think seriously about the current state and a path forward for EU-China relations, which Ambassador Toledo is exceptionally well-qualified to comment on. Following an introduction from CEIBS President Wang Hong, Ambassador Toledo gave a speech detailing his thoughts on The Past, Present and Future of EU-China Relations, outlining the progress made over the past five decades, the challenges and opportunities the relationship faces in today’s fast-changing geopolitical and trade climate, and current issues of tension and possible solutions.

Discussing paths forward for effective cooperation and another 50 years of constructive collaboration, Ambassador Toledo posited that the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations could serve as an opportunity to rebalance the relationship and resolve current issues. The Ambassador also took time to elaborate on CEIBS itself, highlighting the school’s development in the 30 years since its founding and its contribution to the relationship between China and Europe through the cultivation of people-to-people ties.

His remarks were followed by a frank and lively Q&A session hosted by CEIBS Vice President and Dean Frank Bournois, in which Ambassador Toledo answered several questions from audience members. Topics included gaps in the mutual perceptions of Chinese and European citizens, potential EU-China collaboration in artificial intelligence, the trade relationship between China and the EU, and more.

The forum was then concluded with remarks from CEIBS President (European) Dominique Turpin, followed by an informal cocktail and networking session that allowed CEIBS alumni to interact with the leading figures present.