This collection of papers from six authors, Zhou Hong, Jiang Shixue and Cheng Weidong from the Institute of European Studies of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, Pierre Defraigne from the Madariaga – College of Europe Foundation, Andrew Small from the German Marshall Fund of the United States and Thomas Renard from the Royal Institute of International Relations – Egmont is meant to provide an analysis from European and Chinese perspectives of the main challenges presently posed by the changing global order to China and the EU. The collection identifies the differences in analysis but also underlines common ground and explores proposals and recommendations for the boosting of a multilateral system. The papers tackle three specific questions, which are in our opinion particularly pressing in the reflection upon global governance: the reform of the international monetary system, the G20 and the reform of the United Nations Security Council. The papers were drafted after a six month exchange between authors and discussions at a first conference convened in Beijing on 22 November 2010 entitled “China and the EU as Global Partners”; and a second one held in Brussels on 26 May 2011 entitled “EU-China: Close Cooperation on the Multilateral Agenda”.

The authors are grateful to the EU-China Policy Dialogues Support Facility (PDSF) for providing the platform for this fruitful exchange and to the European External Action Service (EEAS) from having promoted, funded and provided continuous support to the action.