{"id":497,"date":"2026-06-10T10:37:28","date_gmt":"2026-06-10T07:37:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sisu.ut.ee\/eckf\/?page_id=497"},"modified":"2026-06-11T15:55:23","modified_gmt":"2026-06-11T12:55:23","slug":"the-speakers","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/sisu.ut.ee\/eckf\/the-speakers\/","title":{"rendered":"The speakers"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Opening Session<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Bart Dessein<\/strong> <br>Bart Dessein is Professor of Chinese Studies at Ghent University and a leading scholar of Chinese political thought, philosophy, and governance. His research focuses on the historical and ideological foundations of Chinese statecraft and contemporary Chinese politics. He has been actively involved in European research networks on China, including the ReConnect China project.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Victor De Decker<\/strong><br>Victor De Decker is a Research Fellow at the Egmont Institute. His work focuses on China\u2019s foreign policy, EU\u2013China relations, and international security issues. He regularly contributes policy analysis on geopolitical developments affecting Europe and Asia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\">\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Keynote Session<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Nicoletta Pusterla<\/strong><br>Nicoletta Pusterla is Head of the China, Hong Kong, Macao, Taiwan and Mongolia Division at the European External Action Service (EEAS). She has extensive experience in EU diplomacy and external relations, with a particular focus on East Asia. Her work centres on shaping the European Union\u2019s policy towards China and the broader Indo-Pacific region.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Joseph Liow Chinyong<\/strong><br>Joseph Liow is Dean of the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy at the National University of Singapore. An internationally recognised scholar of Asian geopolitics and security, his research covers China, Southeast Asia, and great-power competition in the Indo-Pacific. He is a frequent commentator on regional security and international affairs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\">\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Session A: China\u2019s Development Path<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Fran\u00e7oise Nicolas<\/strong><br>Fran\u00e7oise Nicolas is Senior advisor, at the French Institute of International Relations (IFRI). Her expertise lies in Asian economies, international trade, and economic integration, with a particular focus on China and East Asia. She has published extensively on economic reforms and regional economic cooperation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Alexander Hoeckle<\/strong><br>Fran\u00e7oise Nicolas is Senior advisor, at the French Institute of International Relations (IFRI). Her expertise lies in Asian economies, international trade, and economic integration, with a particular focus on China and East Asia. She has published extensively on economic reforms and regional economic cooperation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Miguel Otero Iglesias<\/strong><br>Miguel Otero Iglesias is Senior Fellow at the Elcano Royal Institute and Professor at IE University. His research focuses on international political economy, monetary affairs, European integration, and China\u2019s role in the global economy. He regularly advises policymakers and contributes to debates on Europe\u2019s economic strategy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>John Seaman (Moderator)<\/strong><br>John Seaman is a Research Fellow at IFRI and Coordinator of the Centre for Asian Studies. His work focuses on China\u2019s international relations, energy security, strategic resources, and technological competition. He has played a leading role in several major European research projects on China.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\">\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Session B: Domestic Policy and Society in China<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Christian G\u00f6bel<\/strong><br>Christian G\u00f6bel is Professor of Chinese Studies at the University of Vienna. His research examines governance, social change, local politics, and state\u2013society relations in contemporary China. He is widely recognised for his work on political participation and social stability in China.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Marcin Jacoby<\/strong><br>Marcin Jacoby is Professor at SWPS University in Poland and a specialist in Chinese culture, society, and communication. His research explores contemporary Chinese identity, public discourse, and social transformations. He is also well known as a commentator and author on China-related issues.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Daria Impiombato<\/strong><br>Daria Impiombato is Senior Analyst at MERICS (Mercator Institute for China Studies). Her research focuses on Chinese domestic politics, social policy, digital governance, and human rights. She frequently publishes analyses on developments within Chinese society and governance structures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Urmas H\u00f5bepappel (Moderator)<\/strong><br>Urmas H\u00f5bepappel is an Analyst at the University of Tartu and a specialist in China-related political and societal developments. His work focuses on contemporary Chinese governance, public opinion, and EU\u2013China relations. He regularly contributes to policy discussions in Estonia and Europe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\">\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Plenary Panel: China\u2019s Foreign Policy<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Una Aleksandra B\u0113rzi\u0146a-\u010cerenkova<\/strong><br>Una Aleksandra B\u0113rzi\u0146a-\u010cerenkova is Head of the China Studies Centre at Riga Stradi\u0146\u0161 University and Director of the Latvian Institute of International Affairs. She is one of the Baltic region\u2019s leading China experts, specialising in Chinese foreign policy, strategic communication, and EU\u2013China relations. Her work frequently addresses China\u2019s role in global governance and regional security.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Richard Turcs\u00e1nyi<\/strong><br>Richard Turcs\u00e1nyi is Assistant Professor at Palack\u00fd University Olomouc and a prominent scholar of Central European perspectives on China. His research focuses on China\u2019s foreign policy, public perceptions of China, and international relations in East Asia. He has led several comparative projects on European attitudes towards China.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Mario Esteban<\/strong><br>Mario Esteban is Senior Fellow at the Elcano Royal Institute and Professor at the Autonomous University of Madrid. His research concentrates on Chinese foreign policy, EU\u2013China relations, and East Asian geopolitics. He is a frequent advisor to Spanish and European institutions on China-related issues.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Agnieszka Nitza-Makowska (Moderator)<\/strong><br>Agnieszka Nitza-Makowska is Researcher at the University of Tartu and Assistant Professor at Collegium Civitas. Her research focuses on international relations, Chinese foreign policy, and political developments in East Asia. She has extensive experience analysing China\u2019s growing international influence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\">\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Session A: China in Africa and the EU Dimension<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Raoul Bunskoek<\/strong><br>Raoul Bunskoek is Head of the China Centre at the Clingendael Institute. His work focuses on China\u2019s global engagement, strategic competition, and implications for European foreign policy. He regularly contributes policy analysis on China\u2019s role in emerging regions and global governance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Joshua Eisenman<\/strong><br>Joshua Eisenman is Senior Fellow at the American Foreign Policy Council and Professor at the University of Notre Dame. He is a leading expert on China\u2013Africa relations, Chinese foreign policy, and international development. His publications have significantly shaped scholarly understanding of China\u2019s engagement in Africa.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Sara Van Hoeymissen<\/strong><br>Sara Van Hoeymissen is Lecturer at the Royal Military Academy in Belgium. Her research focuses on China\u2019s foreign relations, development cooperation, and international security issues. She has particular expertise in China\u2019s interactions with developing regions and multilateral institutions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Huanyu Zhao (Moderator)<\/strong><br>Huanyu Zhao is a Postdoctoral Researcher at Ghent University. Her research explores Chinese foreign policy, international political economy, and China\u2013Europe relations. She contributes to several European research initiatives examining China\u2019s global role.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\">\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Session B: China in the Arctic<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Patrik Andersson<\/strong><br>Patrik Andersson is an Analyst at the Swedish National China Centre. His research focuses on China\u2019s foreign policy, strategic interests in the Arctic, and Nordic\u2013China relations. He regularly provides analysis to policymakers on China\u2019s activities in Northern Europe and the Arctic region.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Toomas Lukk<\/strong><br>Toomas Lukk is Special Envoy for the Arctic at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Estonia. He has extensive diplomatic experience and works on Arctic governance, regional cooperation, and security issues. His work connects Arctic developments with broader European foreign policy priorities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Ahad Hadian<\/strong><br>Ahad Hadian is a Researcher at Nord University Business School. His research focuses on China\u2019s engagement in the Arctic, international political economy, and governance of northern regions. He examines how emerging geopolitical and economic interests shape Arctic cooperation and competition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Lavinia Klarhoefer (Moderator)<\/strong><br>Lavinia Klarhoefer is Policy Advisor at Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung Europe. Her work focuses on European foreign policy, China, and geopolitical developments in the Indo-Pacific and Arctic regions. She contributes to policy discussions on strategic competition and international governance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\">\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Final Plenary Session<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Beatrice Gallelli<\/strong><br>Beatrice Gallelli is a Senior Researcher at the Istituto Affari Internazionali (IAI) and a researcher at Ca\u2019 Foscari University of Venice. Her research focuses on contemporary Chinese politics, society, and domestic governance. She is widely recognised for her work on Chinese political discourse, social change, and EU\u2013China relations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Andrea Gilli<\/strong><br>Andrea Gilli is Senior Researcher at the NATO Defense College and Lecturer at the University of St Andrews. His expertise covers defence innovation, military technology, security studies, and strategic competition among major powers. He is a leading voice on the implications of emerging technologies for international security.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Carmen Amado Mendes (Moderator)<\/strong><br>Carmen Amado Mendes is Professor at the University of Coimbra and President of the Macao Scientific and Cultural Centre in Lisbon. She is a distinguished scholar of China\u2013Europe relations, Chinese foreign policy, and Lusophone Asia. Her work bridges academic research and policy engagement on China\u2019s global role.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Opening Session Bart Dessein Bart Dessein is Professor of Chinese Studies at Ghent University and a leading scholar of Chinese political thought, philosophy, and governance. His research focuses on the historical and ideological foundations of Chinese statecraft and contemporary Chinese &#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":29,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-497","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sisu.ut.ee\/eckf\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/497","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sisu.ut.ee\/eckf\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sisu.ut.ee\/eckf\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sisu.ut.ee\/eckf\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/29"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sisu.ut.ee\/eckf\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=497"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/sisu.ut.ee\/eckf\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/497\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":506,"href":"https:\/\/sisu.ut.ee\/eckf\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/497\/revisions\/506"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sisu.ut.ee\/eckf\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=497"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}