The Asia Centre attended the EACS conference in Venice

This summer was a busy one for the University of Tartu Asia Centre. Our centre’s team attended one of the most important Chinese studies conferences: the EACS 26th Biennial Conference. This year’s event of EACS (European Association for Chinese Studies) took place from 21 to 25 July at Ca’ Foscari University in Venice.

We were represented by Mart Tšernjuk (specialising in Chinese culture), Agnieszka Nitza-Makowska (Chinese foreign relations), Anastasia Sinitsyna (China’s trade) and the head of the centre, Elo Süld (Chinese-Middle Eastern relations). Our people organised a panel to discuss China’s strategic aims and opportunities. It examined how both regions that have been traditionally been open to Chinese influence and newly emerging areas perceive and respond to China’s ambitions, and how China adjusts its regional and global strategies in a transforming international environment.

Anastasia Sinitsyna’s presentation was on China’s growing ambitions in the Arctic, analysing how Beijing seeks to reshape sovereignty and governance in the region that is emerging as an arena of global rivalry. The paper by Elo Süld turned to the Middle East, using the United Arab Emirates as a case study to assess both the potential and the contradictions inherent in China’s strategic approach to a region marked by complex security dynamics and shifting alliances. The third presentation by Agnieszka Nitra-Makowska focused on the China–Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), situating it within the framework of the “all-weather friendship” and evaluating whether this strategic partnership represents a durable opportunity for China or a source of long-term concern. The panel was concluded by Mart Tšernjuk’s analysis of Taiwan’s New Southbound Policy (NSP), exploring how Taipei leverages the policy to strengthen its political autonomy and diversify its partnerships amid intensifying U.S.–China competition.

In addition, Anastasia Sinitsyna organised a roundtable discussion for the Reconnect China project. The project focuses on Europe-China relations, connecting and involving European top universities, including the University of Tartu. The roundtable discussion “ReConnect China – What Is the Future of EU–China Relations?” was about the changes in Europe’s and China’s relations since 2019 and in future. Huanyu Zhao (from Ghent University) analysed China’s four Global Initiatives, Beatrice Gallelli (from Ca’ Foscari University) discussed China’s environmental discourse and policies, and Richard Turcsányi (from Palacký University Olomouc) talked about China-Africa relations. Anastasia herself discussed China’s expanding economic interests in the Arctic as a potential new trade route that could complement and diversify existing maritime corridors such as the South China Sea and the Strait of Malacca.

During the same time, the Venice Biennale took place, and our people also used the opportunity to see world-class modern art.