Cecilia Malmström is EU Commissioner for Trade. She spoke at Friends of Europe's EU-China Forum on 27 June 2017.

Ambassador Yang Yanyi is Head of Mission of China to the EU. She gave a welcome speech at the 7th EU-China Forum, organised by Friends of Europe on 27 June 2017.

Friends of Europe organised this high level debate in partnership with IEA and FuelsEurope to discuss green solutions for the future of road freight transport. On the occasion, the Executive Director of IEA Fatih Birol presented IEA's Report on “The Future of Road Freight Transport”.

Other speakers included EU Commission Vice President for Energy Union Maroš Sefčovič, John Cooper (FuelsEurope) and Sophie Punte (Smart Freight Center).

Friends of Europe's debate on EU, NATO and the South took place in Brussels on 28 June 2017. It concentrated on the necessity for the transatlantic community to develop coordinated strategies to addresscomplex security and strategic challenges coming from the MENA region.

Speakers included Magnus Nordenman (Atlantic Council of the United States), Gábor Iklódy (EEAS), freelance reporter and NATO analyst Teri Schultz, Jamie Shea (NATO)and former ambassador of Italy to NATO Stefano Stefanini.

Jamie Shea is Deputy Assistant Secretary General for Emerging Security Challenges Division at NATO and Trustee of Friends of Europe. He participated Friends of Europe's policy insight on transatlantic cooperation and Europe's southern neighbourhood on 28 June 2017.

Teri Schultz is a freelance reporter for National Public Radio, CBS and Deutsche Welle. She participated Friends of Europe's policy insight on transatlantic cooperation and Europe's southern neighbourhood on 28 June 2017.

The 7th EU-China Forum looked at the future directions of EU-China relations in an age of increased uncertainties. In the second session, speakers and participants discussed current geopolitical changes and their impact on both Europe and China and on EU-China relations. Speakers included EU Commissioner for trade Cecilia Malmström, Cao Yuanzheng (BOCI Research), author of “China’s Millennials: the want generation” Eric Fish, Liu Miao (Luzhou Laojiao), Meng Hong (Renmin University of China), Masami Nakata (Energy Charter Secretariat) and Juan Prat y Coll (FIPRA).

The 7th EU-China Forum looked at the future directions of EU-China relations in an age of increased uncertainties. The first session analysed China’s ambitious Belt and Road Initiative (BRI)and its impact on the relationship with the West. Speakers included: Ambassador and Head of Mission of China to the EU Yang Yanyi, Chi Fulin (China Institute for Reform and Development), Pino Musolino (North Adriatic Sea Port Authority), State Secretary for Foreign Affairs of Latvia Andrejs Pildegovičs, Hans-Jörg Schmidt-Trenz (Hamburg Chamber of Commerce) and Zhao Jinping (Chinese Development Research Center of the State Council).

Friends of Europe's debate focused on solutions to diagnose and cure rare diseases in Europe. Speakers included Yann Le Cam (Eurordis), Nathalie Moll (EFPIA), Xavier Prats Monné (European Commission), Maurizio Scarpa (MetabERN) and Kim Stratton (Shire).

Friends of Europe's debate focused on solutions to foster business competitiveness and innovation in the European energy market. Speakers included Patrick Child (European Commission), Caroline Hillegeer (ENGIE) and startupper Caroline Rozain (Sylfen).