ZHANG Chao is an Associate Professor at the Institute of European Studies, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences. He got his Ph.D degree at Pompeu Fabra University at Barcelona, Spain. Before joining the institute, he was an assistant researcher at Casa Asia, Barcelona (2017), visiting fellow at European Institute for Asian Studies, Brussels (2016), and a visiting Ph.D at Central European University, Budapest (2016). He spent two years (2010 - 2011) working as a police officer. 

His research interests are in China-EU relations, the EU’s development and humanitarian aid polices, China’s aid architecture and reform. He is now working on a research project about the EU’s “Global Gateway” initiative. He has published in high-quality journals, such as Third World Quarterly, Asia-Europe Journal, China Report, The Journal of International Studies, and Chinese Journal of European Studies. He is a contributor to The Diplomat. 

He manages both English and Spanish. He is a marathon runner (amateur), plays football and does cycling.  

Selected Publications 

1. ZHANG Chao, “Fixing China’s Humanitarian Aid Architecture: What Are the Lessons from the European Union and the United States?” Third World Quarterly, Vol. 44, Iss. 6, 2023. 

2. ZHANG Chao, “The Development Aid of Central and Eastern European Countries in the Post-Cold War Era” (in Chinese), Ouya Jingji (Journal of Eurasian Economy), Iss. 1, 2023. 

3. ZHANG Chao, TANG Yuxuan, “The Integration of Environmental Policy in the EU’s Development Cooperation” (in Chinese), Deguo Yanjiu (German Studies), Iss. 4, 2022.  

4. ZHANG Chao, WU Baiyi, “On Overcoming the ‘Oversecuritization Trap’” (in Chinese), Guoji Zhanwang (Global Review), No. 2, 2022.  

5. ZHANG Chao, “China’s Triangular Development Cooperation: Perception and Practices”, China Report, Iss. 2, 2021. 

6. ZHANG Chao, “The EU–China Energy Cooperation: toward a Reciprocal Partnership?”, Asia Europe Journal, Iss. 2, 2021. 

7. ZHANG Chao, “Is China an Aid Superpower”, IDEES, No. 52, 2021. 

8. ZHANG Chao, “The ‘Humanitarian-Development-Peace’ Nexus: The EU’s Policy, Practice and Dilemma” (in Chinese), Ouzhou Yanjiu (Chinese Journal of European Studies), Iss. 6, 2020. 

9. ZHANG Chao, “The EU’s Environmental Aid: Policies and Practices” (in Chinese), Guowai Lilun Dongtai (Foreign Theoretical Trends), Iss. 4, 2019. 

10. ZHANG Chao, “The Development Aid Policies of the European Union and the United States in the Global Context” (in Chinese), Guoji Zhengzhi Yanjiu (The Journal of International Studies), Iss. 4, 2019. 

11. ZHANG Chao, “The Belt and Road Initiative and China-EU Energy Cooperation: Opportunities and Challenges” (in Chinese), Guoji Luntan (International Forum), Iss. 3, 2018. 

12. ZHANG Yanzhu and ZHANG Chao, “30 Years with Common but Differentiated Responsibility, Why Do We Need It Ever More Today?”, https://blogs.idos-research.de/2022/05/04/30-years-with-common-but-differentiated-responsibility-why-do-we-need-it-ever-more-today/. 

13. ZHANG Chao and TANG Yuxuan, “What Does a New White Paper Tell Us About China’s International Aid?”, https://thediplomat.com/2021/01/what-does-a-new-white-paper-tell-us-about-chinas-international-aid/. 

14. ZHANG Chao, “The Trouble with Trump’s New Africa Strategy”, https://thediplomat.com/2018/12/the-trouble-with-trumps-new-africa-strategy/. 

15. ZHANG Chao, “Why Is Transparency So Important for China’s Development Assistance?”, https://thediplomat.com/2018/11/why-is-transparency-so-important-for-chinas-development-assistance/. 

16. Zhang Chao, “Why Is the Chinese Public So Hostile Toward Development Assistance?”, https://thediplomat.com/2018/09/why-is-the-chinese-public-so-hostile-toward-development-assistance/. 

17. Zhang Chao, “The Climate Change Promise of China’s Belt and Road Initiative”, https://thediplomat.com/2018/01/the-climate-change-promise-of-chinas-belt-and-road-initiative/.