In spite of the global slowdown and the eurozone’s sovereign debt woes, European investors are still attracted in record numbers by Latin American economies’ booming performances. After the US, Europe is Latin America’s major trading partner, with total trade now topping €200bn yearly, well ahead of China’s €130bn. Can EU-Latin American commercial partnerships and joint ventures facilitate technology transfer, innovation and sustainable economic development?

The launch of the EU-China Partnership on Sustainable Urbanisation has added a practical and dynamic new element into EU-China relations. Given the array of challenges they face in adapting to the “urban century”, China and Europe have a strong interest in working together to build better cities. How can China and Europe join forces to meet the demands of China’s urban billion?

China’s tremendous economic and social changes during the last few decades have triggered enormous migration flows from rural to urban areas. This debate provided an opportunity to explore China’s urban transition, identify main problems it brings and draw policy implications for sustainable urban planning and development. The China Advisory Council within the Understanding China programme welcomed some 40 senior experts on the topic of urbanisation.

Until the global economy spun into crisis, foreign direct investment (FDI) in Serbia was relatively strong and was among the preferred investment destinations in South-Eastern Europe. Today investment opportunities remain attractive, reflecting Serbia’s own need for privatisation, modernisation and greater competitiveness in the agriculture and food sectors, and in energy. Last year saw a modest return of investor interest in Serbia, but to reinforce this, what must the country now do to restructure its economy and improve the business environment? How can the rule of law be strengthened and red tape cut so as to create a climate more conducive to FDI? What measures would best improve financial services and promote the private sector? How crucially important is EU candidate status not only to Serbia itself but to the Western Balkans as a whole?

Europe is China’s biggest trading partner, with the EU taking more than 20% of all China’s exports. But although trade is growing, the trade balance in China’s favour has soared to €170bn. In the wake of the financial crisis, the signs are that reciprocal investment will be the growing trend of economic relations.