Brussels, 15/05/2006 (Agence Europe) - On 15 May, during her visit to Beijing, Regional Policy Commissioner Danuta Hübner signed a memorandum of understanding setting up an official forum where the Commission and China will discuss regional policy issues. The Commission's Directorate General for Regional Policy and the Chinese National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) will aim to promote bilateral cooperation and to exchange information on policies contributing to growth, competitiveness and employment. “The dialogue and the forging of new ties of partnership between China and the European Union is vital,” said Ms Hübner, adding that “this dialogue will help both parties in their effort to tackle their respective regional disparities”.
On Monday in Beijing, Ms Hübner also opened a Sino-European seminar on regional development policy where Chinese regional economic policy and future prospects, the impact and added value of the Community regional policy, ways to achieve better territorial balance, and management and implementation of structural funds in the EU were discussed. In her speech, Ms Hübner pointed out that the Community cohesion policy sought to reduce disparities by strengthening potential long-term growth of regions that were lagging behind in terms of development, through improvement in regional competitiveness, and guaranteeing that all regions were involved in the single market and benefited from its dynamism.
On 16 May, Ms Hübner is due to visit the Shenyang development zone (province of Liaoning) where she will be received by the Governor Zang Wenyue and will inaugurate the local office of the European Union Chamber of Commerce in China (EUCCC).
During her visit, Ms Hübner will also meet national and regional leaders, including NDRC Deputy Minister Du Ying.