Brussels, 04/05/2012 (Agence Europe) - This week, the EU and China strengthened their strategic partnership with joint initiatives on sustainable urbanisation and energy cooperation, under the benevolent eye of Li Keqiang, the likely successor to Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jiabao.
After his meeting with the Chinese deputy leader, in Brussels on Thursday 3 May, José Manuel Barroso - like the president of the European Council, Herman Van Rompuy - spoke of “substantive and constructive” discussion with Li Keqiang. In a written statement, Barroso says: “Vice-Premier Li's visit today is testimony to the solid and forward-looking nature of the EU-China bilateral relationship, which continues to grow closer and stronger”. Like Van Rompuy and their Chinese visitor, Barroso declined all contact with the press, leading to the latter's displeasure on Thursday (see EUROPE 10607).
Speaking of his meeting with Li Keqiang, the Commission president expressed his “appreciation for the measures taken by the Chinese government to rebalance the Chinese growth model and for the confidence Vice-Premier Li has expressed in the EU's ability to overcome the current economic challenges, as well as for his support for the EU's actions in this regard”. Barroso and Li agreed to work “closely together to promote strong, sustainable and balanced growth” in line with their G20 commitments. Looking forward to the summit in Los Cabos (Mexico) on 18-19 June, President Barroso spoke of the need for both economies to “work hard together to build a level playing field and make the most of it for our citizens and businesses”.
The two men held an exchange of views on climate change and sustainable development, and especially on preparations for the Rio+20 conference. Welcoming in this respect “China's intention to develop climate legislation to implement its international target”, Barroso underlined that the EU “stands ready to cooperate on successful climate change policies, including on emissions trading”.
Ahead of the next bilateral summit to take place in Brussels, the Commission president underlined the importance of pursuing dialogue on human rights, for which the next meeting is scheduled on 29-30 May. Van Rompuy, also, had said that dialogue is key to and essential for EU-China relations. On the other hand, neither mentioned the case of the blind dissident lawyer Chen Guangcheng, who is seeking to leave China for the United States.
The meeting between European leaders and the future Chinese head of government also resulted in initiatives being triggered to complete EU-China strategic partnership, including an urbanisation partnership, energy management, the development of green digital towns, mobility, migrants' inclusion, and water and waste management. “The objective of our urbanisation partnership is to provide an open political platform for EU and Chinese stakeholders to cooperate and share experiences on how to address the economic, social and environmental challenges of urbanisation”, Barroso explained. Speaking at the high level meeting under his chairmanship with Li Keqiang, he went on to add: “China has huge investment requirements in local infrastructure and social services. But above all, China is developing a long-term vision for its new cities. The European mode of dense cities, which is less demanding in terms of use of natural resources, well organised to support economic activity and quality of life, has been widely recognised by Chinese experts as preferable to the sprawling conurbations found in other parts of the world. We can share with our Chinese counterparts the rationale for our city development, the technological and governance infrastructures that allow them to function and also our own experiences of our process of urbanisation”.
The EU and China have also signed two joint declarations for an energy partnership. One is on regulation of electricity markets, consisting of an exchange of expertise and technical support. “Together”, said Barroso, “we will discuss a range of market-related issues, such as pricing, access to the market and the technical standards for the sustainable integration of renewable energy to the grids”. The other is on energy security. Barroso made it clear that: “Our objective is to jointly engage as responsible world energy players so as to make the best energy choices, the most sustainable investments, in order to cater for stability of the world markets and achieve sustainable growth. The choices we make today have a global impact and will be felt, I am sure, for generations to come. China and the EU therefore share a global responsibility”. He did not conceal, however, that the EU did have expectations of China, saying: “We are looking forward to having China as a partner who engages internationally, a China that participates in framing of our international energy policies and in energy markets. To be effective, this will also require guaranteeing 'a level playing field', including open and non-discriminatory access to our respective markets”. He pointed out that, in this respect, a bilateral investment agreement between the EU and China to ensure access to procurement markets is essential. (EH/transl.jl)