Brussels, 08/09/2006 (Agence Europe) - The 9th Annual EU-China Summit will take place on 9 September in Helsinki. On Friday, Jose Manuel Barroso said it would provide an opportunity to consolidate the EU's ever wider and more fruitful partnership with China and stress the EU's political desire to extend and build on relations. Barroso will be representing the EU, along with the President of the European Council, Matti Vanhanen, EU High Representative Javier Solana, Finnish foreign minister Erkki Tuomioja, Finnish trade minister Paula Lehtomaki and EU External Relations Commmissioner Benita Ferrero-Waldner. The Chinese delegation will be led by Prime Minister Wen Jiabao, accompanied by foreign minister Li Zhaoxing, Ma Kai of the state development and reform committee, and Bo Xilai, Chinese trade minister. The two sides will discuss bilateral relations and strengthening co-operation to address some of today's key global challenges. They will discuss the environment and climate change, readmission, human rights, and economic and trade questions, including improved EU access to the Chinese market and fair competition in bilateral trade. They will also cover energy security, where both sides recognise the importance of working closely together and on the importance of a rules-based market approach. Political issues to be discussed include cooperation to combat illegal immigration and facilitate legitimate travel. The EU wants China to sign an agreement on re-admitting Chinese illegal immigrants. They are expected to announce the opening of negotiations over a bilateral agreement to combat trade in chemicals used to make synthetic drugs. The EU and China will exchange views on regional and international issues, including East Asia, Africa, Iran, North Korea, Burma/Myanmar and the Middle East.
The EU and China are expected to agree to launch negotiations for a new framework agreement to reflect the full depth and breadth of their growing partnership and cover no less than 22 sectoral areas of dialogue. The European Commission will be unveiling a new strategy for China before the end of the year, based in part on the outcome of the Helsinki Summit. On Tuesday, Matti Vanhanen and Wen Jiabao will open the EU-China Economic Forum.