Brussels, 30/06/2010 (Agence Europe) - A new meeting under EU-China Dialogue on Human Rights was held in Madrid on 29 June. “The dialogue was conducted in a courteous atmosphere and was an occasion to express concerns and differences of opinion with regard to the implementation of international human rights standards in China and the EU”, it is stipulated in a press release from the Spanish EU Presidency. Talks were essentially on implementation of the Chinese Human Rights Action Plan, on the situation in Tibet and Xinjiang, on the rights of North Korean refugees, internet freedom, the death penalty and China's ratification of the International Convention on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR). The EU seized the opportunity provided to forward to Beijing a list of individual cases of concern. China, for its part, raised the question of migrant workers into the EU, “instigation of racial hatred against ethnic minorities by political parties” and the “use of torture in the fight against terrorism by a number of EU member states”, the Spanish Presidency's press release points out. The next meeting for the dialogue on human rights (in principle held every six months) is scheduled for the end of the year in Beijing.
Taiwan. While keeping to its “one China policy”, the European Union welcomes the efforts made by the Chinese and Taiwanese authorities with a view to finding “pragmatic solutions” to the question of Taiwan and developing peaceful relations. “Constructive measures” undertaken by Beijing and Taipei contribute significantly to “stabilisation and security in East Asia”, Catherine Ashton, EU High Representative for Foreign and Security Affairs, said on 30 June, speaking through her spokeswoman. Ashton also welcomed the signing, on 29 June, of the Cross-Strait Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement and the agreement on intellectual property rights. (H.B./transl.jl)