The Brussels Academy for China and European Studies – BACES is an academic platform initiated by four founding universities: Renmin University of China, Sichuan University, Fudan University and Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB). BACES was officially established on 31 March 2014.
Operationally, BACES is an agreement between the four founding partner universities and open to new affiliated partner institutes. The coordination of BACES is located in Brussels and integrated within the VUB.
BACES was inaugurated by Vice Premier Liu Yandong and EU-Commissioner Androulla Vassiliou on 6 September 2014, on the occasion of the 2nd High-Level People-to-People Dialogue in Beijing.
PURPOSE: BACES is a platform for exchanging academic ideas, supporting academic activities and for promoting understanding between Chinese and European people. The Academy is mandated to carry out activities in the field of post-initial education, research, academic services including policy advice, and is supported by scholarship schemes. BACES acts as a critical think tank in support of the High-Level People-to-People Dialogue. The platform carries out research on issues related to contemporary China and the EU. BACES was supported by the China Scholarship Council and Huawei (through a chair for Contemporary China Studies).
Signing 31 March 2014: Prof. Yulu Chen, President Renmin University of China; Prof. Heping Xie, President Sichuan University; Prof. Yuliang Yang, President of Fudan University; Prof. Paul De Knop, Rector VUB. Witness Signatory Pascal Smet, Flemish Minister for Education, Youth, Equal Opportunities and Brussels Affairs.