Brussels, 16/05/2011 (Agence Europe) - The EU admires China's exceptional economic development and appreciates its “immense contribution to overall global development”, but also expects Beijing to respect its international commitments in the field of human rights and the rule of law. This is what the permanent president of the European Council, Herman Van Rompuy, stated after his meeting with the Chinese president, Hu Jintao le, in Beijing on 16 May. “I expressed my appreciation to President Hu for China's rapid growth and its immense contribution to overall global development. Lifting hundreds of millions of people out of poverty is an unprecedented achievement”, said Van Rompuy. “China's economic development and rise on the global scene is a great opportunity for Europe as well”, because Europe is the largest commercial partner of the country, he said. “We therefore want China to succeed”. In order for the EU and China to be able to build further upon their “strategic partnership”, it is important to maintain a “climate of openness” in commercial and economic relations. Europe has always kept its markets open, even in times of economic crisis, and it would like China to do the same and to improve its commercial and investment climate for European businesses, he said. Europe also expects China to take the responsibilities which go hand-in-hand with its new position as an economic power in an interdependent world. “Safeguarding human rights and the rule of law is part of this”, stressed the president of the European Council. “China and the EU have both signed up to the international instruments that enshrine the universal values of human rights, and we have a shared responsibility to uphold them.” These are subjects of great importance for the European citizens: how China acts in these areas will largely determine its reputation and its future influence in the world, Van Rompuy concluded. (H.B./transl.fl)