On May 29, 2026, the Fudan Institute for Global Public Policy (IGPP) hosted the 4th event of the Global Leadership Series on the theme of China and the European Union: Building a Shared Future in a Fragmented World. Dr. Dostál currently serves on the European Parliament Committee on Public Health and the Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety. His research focuses on health law, public policy, and international law. He is also noted as the only Member of the European Parliament to attend the “Commemoration of the 80th Anniversary of the Victory in the Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War,” and has published commentaries in multiple Chinese media outlets. The event was chaired by Dean Yijia Jing of IGPP, with a roundtable dialogue featuring Dr. Shaohua Yan, Deputy Director of the China–Europe Relations Research Center at the Institute of International Studies of Fudan University.

Dr. Dostál analyzed the trajectory of China–EU relations amid increasing geopolitical fragmentation and global economic uncertainty. He began with the historical development of the European Union and then examined internal governance coordination challenges and declining industrial competitiveness within the EU. He emphasized that a stable and just global order must be grounded in peaceful coexistence, respect for sovereignty, and adherence to international law. He advocated for cooperation under the United Nations framework and multilateralism, and suggested pragmatic alignment between the Belt and Road Initiative and the EU’s Global Gateway initiative to promote shared prosperity. He called for China and the EU to strengthen mutual understanding, learning, and cooperation in addressing global challenges.

In roundtable discussion, Dean Jing invited Dr. Dostál and Dr. Yan to exchange views on the transformation of the international order and reforms of multilateral mechanisms. The discussion focused on global supply chain restructuring, strategic autonomy, and cultural exchange, with reference to the EU’s recent “Industrial Accelerator Act.” Both sides explored feasible pathways for deeper policy coordination between China and Europe under complex global conditions. On economic relations, Dr. Dostál noted that Europe should prioritize addressing its internal structural industrial challenges. Both sides agreed that strengthening strategic autonomy is both necessary and feasible, albeit with inevitable practical challenges. On cultural exchange, Dr. Dostál highlighted his own international educational experiences and emphasized that enhanced academic and cultural mobility can further improve China–EU relations.

During the visit, Dr. Dostál also met with Dean Jing to discuss expanding China–Europe cooperation and strengthening exchanges between Fudan University and the European Parliament. Both sides agreed to promote collaboration in academic exchange and talent cultivation through constructive engagement. Participants included Jonathan Schwestka, an alumnus of IGPP and assistant to a Member of the European Parliament; Associate Dean Professor Haoqi Qian; Assistant Professor Xin Ye; and Dr. Yan.