EAST NUMBERS – A bittersweet relationship

Between (economic) hopes and (geopolitical) scepticism: China and Europe try to have a difficult conversation.

News concerning current relations between Europe and China is not particularly good, at least judging by the opinions expressed online (of which there is no lack) during the first six months of 2015. An analysis of almost 1.5 million comments written by Europeans in English and Chinese on economic and cultural ties between Europe and the land of the Great Wall brings to light significant mistrust, in particular in the West, where the relatively few positive comments concern exchanges of an economic or scientific nature.

The overall picture is even more troublesome if one takes into account that the economy, one of the few happy notes in EU-China relations, could soon become less harmonious given the Shanghai Stock Exchange’s steep decline throughout June and July. But one thing at a time. 

If you want to read it all, purchase the entire issue in pdf for just three euro