Brussels, 29/01/2009 (Agence Europe) - On Friday 30 January, José Manuel Barroso and five members of his Commission, Benita Ferrero-Waldner (external relations), Joaquin Almunia (economic and monetary affairs), Catherine Ashton (trade), Stavros Dimas (environment) and Janez Potocnik (research) received a Chinese ministerial delegation in Brussels, headed by Prime Minister Wen Jiabao. This visit forms part of the 2nd Commission and Chinese government working meeting and follows the Commission's official visit on 25 April last to Beijing, which inaugurated the EU-China economic and trade mechanism (EUROPE 9651). There are eight cooperation agreements in a variety of fields (fight against piracy and counterfeiting, customs inspections, Chinese exchange programme, science/technology and research, the protection of Chinese working in the mining sector, environment and climate). These agreements are due to be signed at the end of the work on the economic and financial crisis in view of the G20 economic powers' summit on 2 April in London and the international climate policy conference in Copenhagen next December. Europeans and the Chinese will also hold an exchange of views on the state of bilateral relations, particularly in regard to progress in negotiations for a partnership and cooperation agreement, which is due to replace the 1985 cooperation agreement, and also points of friction in trade.
A bilateral meeting between Barroso and Wen will precede a plenary session bringing Commission and Chinese delegation members together. This will include the Chinese foreign minister, Yang Jiechi and trade minister, Chen Deming. Community sources indicate that the president of the Commission is expected to reaffirm the EU's appeal to third countries to keep the markets open and resist protectionist temptations or excessive state intervention in the economy. At a political level, Mr Barroso is due to underline Union demands on respect for human rights. Two months after the unilaterally decided postponement by Beijing of the EU-China summit, planned in Lyons under the French Presidency (EUROPE 9791), Amnesty International pointed out to Mr Barroso in a letter sent on the eve of the meeting, that there was a need for frank dialogue based on mutual respect and human rights. Amnesty also exhorts the EU to raise the question of continued violations of the freedom of expression in China, and illustrates the harassment of academics and activists participating in the campaign for political reform and rights in China, “Charter 08”. (E.H./transl.rh)