Brussels, 21/09/2010 (Agence Europe) - Speaking on behalf of the high representative of the EU, Catherine Ashton, to the European Parliament's plenary meeting in Strasbourg on Tuesday 21 September, Karel De Gucht promised that the question of human rights in China would have a significant place on the agenda of the next bilateral summit on 6 October in Brussels, together with dossiers relating to the economy and climate.
The European commissioner for trade declared that “the summit is particularly important this year as we are celebrating the 35th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the EU and China, and using for the first time the set-up provided by the Lisbon Treaty”. He pointed out that the strategic partnership with China was on the agenda of the most recent European Council on 16 September (EUROPE 10216). De Gucht added that “our economic relations have grown immensely over the last 35 years and we are important trading partners for each other. But more needs to be done to open the Chinese market further and to improve the implementation of rules, for example, in the area of public procurement and intellectual property rights. We want to take a forward-looking perspective and act as partners to address global challenges such as climate change, the need to maintain open markets and equal access to raw materials, international stability and the rule of law”. The commissioner provided assurances that the partnership and co-operation agreement would also be discussed.
In addition to economic issues, human rights will have a significant place on the summit agenda. The European commissioner highlighted the universal character of human rights and acknowledged that “there are high expectations internationally for China to comply with international standards on human rights. Even if significant differences between us persist, it is important that we discuss human rights and the rule of law at this summit”. The European Union admits that progress has been made in China in the context of economic and social rights, and that efforts to improve the economic situation of millions of Chinese citizens have been made. Nonetheless, the EU cannot close its eyes with regard to the situation affecting the rights of citizens from a political point of view, emphasised De Gucht. With regard to the question of Tibet in particular, the commissioner expressed his “concern” about criminal prosecutions being directed against many Tibetan writers and intellectuals. De Gucht called on Beijing to “allow the Tibetan people to fully exercise their political, religious, economic and social rights” guaranteed by the Chinese constitution, which grants Tibet autonomous status. Since 1995, the EU and China have maintained a dialogue on human rights, on the basis of biannual meetings. The most recent of these meetings took place in Madrid last June, where the two parties, according to De Gucht, highlighted their “divergences” on this sensitive subject. (E.H./transl.fl)