Brussels, 17/09/2003 (Agence Europe) - EU Commissioner for Enterprise and Information Society Erkki Liikanen and the Chinese Minister Ma Kai of the National Development and Reform Commission signed, on 17 September, an agreement in Beijing for establishing political dialogue on industrial policy between the EU and China. The agreement should allow cooperation to be increased between the parties. Cooperation was launched one year ago when the European Commission and China's Administration for Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine (AQSIQ) set up a mutual consultation mechanism for regulations and norms to be applied to industrial products (see also EUROPE of 12 September, p.14).
The agreement aims at enhancing mutual understanding of current and forthcoming policy approaches to contribute to smooth and sustainable trade relations between the EU and China. During the annual meetings to be held in Beijing and Brussels, dialogue will be on horizontal and sectoral issues. In a press release, the Commission stresses that it should help to ensure a business-friendly level playing field for industrial operators. Commenting on the event, Erkki Liikanen stressed that the signing of the agreement is clear proof that the EU/China relationship is maturing. He also said that the agreement would be "crucial to boost our bilateral trade and to deal with potential problems before they arise".
In Beijing, Mr Liikanen also took part in the first EU/China seminar on questions of certification. During his visit, he met Information Minister Wang Xudong, Science and Technolgoy Minister Xu Guanhua and AQSIQ Minister Li Changjiang. Discussions with his main interlocutors are essentially on ways to promote "e-governance", on EU/China cooperation on research, information technologies and legislation and norms in the field of communications.