Brussels, 11/12/2006 (Agence Europe) - On Monday, EU foreign ministers adopted conclusions on the strategic partnership between the EU and China, backing the strategy envisaged by Commissioners Benita Ferrero-Waldner (External Relations) and Peter Mandelson (Trade) in their communication of 24 October (see EUROPE 9293) on modernising economic and political relations with Beijing. “Strongly committed” to the development of the comprehensive strategic partnership between the EU and China, the Council stressed that it must be “balanced, reciprocal and mutually beneficial”. The Council welcomed the agreement reached at the 9th EU-China Summit in Helsinki in December (see EUROPE 9262) which began negotiations on a new partnership and cooperation agreement, which in future will govern bilateral relations, bringing together as it does no fewer than 22 sectoral dialogues and replacing the cooperation and trade agreement in place since 1985.
On the political level and in terms of the internal situation in China, the Council recognised Beijing's success in developing the economy and in “reducing poverty substantially”, and noted the proposals for a “harmonious society”. The Council went on to say that supporting social rights corporate social responsibility and sustainable development would also be priority areas for cooperation within the context of EU support for China's internal political and economic reform process. Although acknowledging the progress made by the Chinese authorities in giving effect to the economic rights of citizens and its commitment to reform of the criminal justice system, the Council's “serious concerns” remained about the human rights situation in China, and it regretted that there had been little progress in several areas (release of political prisoners, ensuring fair trials, freedom of expression, association and religion, access to information, minority rights) and that there was still “widespread application of the death penalty.
On the level of bilateral trade and investment relations, the Council gave its backing to a “strong and ambitious” European trade policy, providing above all “reciprocity”. “The EU should continue to pursue an active policy of openness at home while demanding a similar effort from China,” it stressed, pointing out that reciprocity should be achieved by addressing technical, health, phytosanitary, legal and administrative barriers to trade, and by addressing non-tariff barriers, notably in goods, services, investment and government procurement. “… for European access to the Chinese market to be effective, the EU must tackle a wide range of issues, from ensuring sustainable ands secure supply of raw materials and energy to distorting subsidies, from lack of access to Chinese government procurement to transparency and the concrete implementation of regulations, from discriminatory industrial policies to the adoption of international (social and environmental) standards,” stressed the Council, building on the Commission's strategy document. Finally the Council reaffirmed that effective protection and enforcement of intellectual property rights was a priority for enabling fair competition in open markets that need protection against piracy and counterfeiting.
A large part of the Council conclusions were given over to energy security, to combating climate change and protecting the environment, which are, it said, “key elements” in bilateral relations. The Council recommended close collaboration to help create a stable, secure, efficient and clean energy environment, and promote open and competitive energy markets. It also looked forward to close cooperation in the promotion of Near-Zero Emissions Coal technology and in the further development of the multilateral climate change regime, ensuring “a broad participation of countries, in accordance with their common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities”.
On the international level, the Council expressed its appreciation of “China's constructive role” promoting dialogue in pursuit of solution to the Iranian and North Korean nuclear issues in particular, and the initiatives taken to reduce tension in the Asia-Pacific region. It encouraged Beijing to take “further security-related confidence building measures”, which might include “greater transparency in equipment development and acquisition, doctrine and (military) planning”. The Council also welcomed the agreement between European and Chinese leaders in Helsinki in September that a “structured dialogue” on Africa should begin as quickly as possible. Finally, the Council reaffirmed its commitment to its “one China” policy and to work for the lifting of the arms embargo, on the basis of the European Council conclusions of December 2004.
The Council pointed out that facilitating exchanges between the peoples, principally through tourism, was a priority in bilateral relations. It recommended enhancing cooperation to deal with illegal immigration issues and to negotiate a readmission agreement. (eh)