China is the largest consumer, producer and net importer of energy in the world. According to the European Commission’s statistical data on energy 2014, China accounted in 2011 for 20.9% of global energy consumption and 18.4% of global energy production. In comparison, the European Union (EU) constituted at the same time 12.7% of global energy consumption and 6.1% of global energy production. Policymakers place energy issues among top concerns. The key challenge is to meet energy demands and aim – in a long term perspective – at a low emission energy system.
The EU and China are key partners in the area of energy, one of the strategic pillars of the EU-China 2020 Agenda. Global energy security – next to climate change adaption and mitigation – is one of the core priorities; hence implementation of a roadmap for EU-China energy cooperation is important in order to reinforce exchanges in the fields of energy legislation, policy and formulation of standards. This cooperation in energy regulation could serve as a platform to share experience and promote best practices both regionally and internationally. Six priority areas have been identified for cooperation in energy issues: renewable energy, smart grids, clean coal, nuclear energy, energy efficiency in buildings and energy legislation.
In 2013, President Xi Jinping has introduced the ‘New Silk Road’ concept which aims to improve the connectivity between Asia and Europe. One of the key objectives is to increase the access to energy sources. Regarding this issue, the EU has not defined a strategy yet. Furthermore, the experience of the United States with shale gas has attracted interest in Europe and China. Shale gas extraction could lower China’s dependence on coal and thereby cut greenhouse gas emissions. On the other hand, the EU could benefit from reduced volatility in global gas markets.
In the era of rapid globalisation, regions and municipalities are re-claiming their historic role of being important actors in international politics. Today, global cities are important economic hubs which create innovation but also consume a lot of energy. Cities seek to source and interconnect the best solutions for mobility, sustainable energy consumption, and space utilisation, offering a great place to live and work, despite rising population density. A more constructive involvement of regional and municipal actors in energy policy and climate change is not clearly defined yet.
What are the future sources of energy? Could China's ambitious Silk Road Initiative help satisfy China's demand for energy? Can closer cooperation between the EU and Asia foster energy security and progress in climate change? How do Asian and European cities cooperate and share best practices concerning energy policy and sustainable development? 

These central questions will be addressed during the 5th Workshop on EU-Asia Relations in Global Politics, jointly organised by the Graduate School of Global Politics at Free University Berlin, the ESSCA EU*Asia Institute and the Center for Economic Sustainability and Entrepreneurial Finance at the School of Accounting and Finance of Hong Kong Polytechnic University which will kindly co-host the Workshop. 

The event takes place in the framework of the UACES Collaborative Research Network on EU-China Relations (ESSCA School of Management at Angers / College of Europe at Bruges / Graduate School of Global Politics at Free University Berlin). The event is generously supported by Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung, Regional Project “Energy security and Climate Change”, Hong Kong SAR.