New strategy for EU-China ties adopted
( 2003-09-11 09:23) (China Daily)
The European Commission, the executive arm of the European Union (EU),
published its new strategy document yesterday to guide EU policy and action
towards China over the next two to three years.
The strategy paper identifies six priorities for EU-China relations in the
coming years, including sharing responsibilities in promoting global governance,
supporting China's reform process and promoting China's "economic opening
domestically and externally."
The paper also contains a number of concrete proposals with a view to
enhancing EU-China ties in key areas, including economic and trade relations and
China's internal reform process.
"The last decade has seen a dynamic growth of the relationship between the EU
and China, which has expanded well beyond the traditional areas of trade,
investment and technical assistance," EU External Relations Commissioner Chris
Patten said.
"These changes have brought about a new maturity in the relationship
characterized by an increasingly close policy co-ordination in many areas,"
Patten told a press conference in Brussels. "This paper takes stock of the many
changes in Europe, China and the rest of the world since our last policy paper
on China in 2001. The EU has successfully introduced the euro and is completing
its largest-ever enlargement. China has joined the WTO and a new generation of
leaders has recently taken the reins in Beijing," he said.
"In addition, faced with a changing international environment with new types
of security concerns such as terrorism or the proliferation of weapons of mass
destruction, we have an ever-greater interest to work as strategic partners on
the international scene to safeguard and promote sustainable development, peace
and stability," Patten added.
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