http://usa.chinadaily.com.cn/opinion/2012-08/18/content_15685606.htm

 

Economic and cultural exchanges and political trust can help narrow China-Europe differences and expand cooperation

 

Editor's note: Vice-Foreign Minister Song Tao addressed a seminar on the situation in Europe and China-Europe relations in Xiamen, Fujian province, on Aug 16. His remarks follow:

Both the political and economic landscapes of the world are undergoing profound and complex changes. Under the new circumstances, it is important for us to have a correct understanding of Europe and cultivate a sound China-Europe relationship.

Europe has always featured prominently in China's diplomacy. The past 10 years have seen China-Europe relations constantly moving to higher levels. China and the European Union launched a comprehensive strategic partnership in 2003, scaling a new height in their ties. The annual China-EU summit mechanism has strengthened mutual understanding and trust, and helped bring about all-round and multi-tiered cooperation across a wide range of fields.

The two sides have put in place other mechanisms, too, such as a high-level economic and trade dialogue, a high-level strategic dialogue and a high-level people-to-people dialogue, which act as the three pillars of cooperation in the political, economic and people-to-people fields.

The past 10 years have also seen result-oriented cooperation between China and Europe becoming increasingly fruitful. Since 2004, the EU has been China's largest trading partner. It is also a major source of investment and technology for China. By holding the inaugural China-Germany inter-government consultations, China has set up such a mechanism for the first time with a major Western country.

China and France have cooperated productively in aviation, nuclear energy and low-carbon energy. And China and the United Kingdom have made good progress in infrastructure and investment cooperation.

Besides, the successful leaders' meeting between China and 16 Central and Eastern European countries is an important innovation in the modality and content of China-Europe cooperation.

In the past decade, the two sides have constantly upgraded their coordination and cooperation in the international arena. In the wake of the Sept 11, 2001 attack on the US and the Iraq War, and in light of new developments in the world, China and the EU have worked vigorously to promote a multipolar world and inter-civilization dialogue and exchanges.

Since the global financial crisis, China and the EU have been working together at G20 summits and other forums to promote reforms in the international economic and financial order. The two sides have also held extensive dialogue on and cooperated in regional affairs in the Asia-Pacific region, Africa, Central Asia and the Middle East and on such global issues as arms control, nonproliferation, human rights and climate change.

Even after Europe was hit by a sovereign debt crisis, China continued to view the situation in Europe in the context of its overall development and economic and social fundamentals. It has maintained a strategic and long-term perspective and stayed committed to furthering its relations with Europe. And it has actively conveyed its confidence in Europe and its integration process.

The past 10 years of China-Europe relations have shown that the two sides are indispensable partners in cooperation, be it in their respective development or in international affairs.

Right now, China and Europe both have new historical opportunities and broad prospects of development. China has always believed that a united, stable and prosperous Europe is in its interests. Europe, on its part, sees closer cooperation with China as its strategic necessity rather than expediency.

We stand ready to join hands with Europe, invest further in China-Europe relations, and work for faster expansion of our relations at higher levels. To this end, I wish to suggest the following:

Politically, China and the EU should respect and trust each other, and work to increase strategic mutual trust. China will stick to its path of peaceful development and dedicate itself to closer cooperation with other countries. China and the EU should view each other's development as an important opportunity. They should learn from each other and share their respective development experiences through closer, high-level contacts and political dialogue.

Economically, building closer economic and trade ties between China and the EU is important for promoting economic prosperity and ensuring steady development. China is ready to negotiate an investment protection agreement with Europe to safeguard and facilitate mutual investment.

In fact, China has been working hard to push free trade negotiations with certain European countries while looking at the modality and timing for a China-EU free trade arrangement as a longer-term goal.

Culturally, China and the EU should increase their exchanges and dialogue to promote common prosperity through mutual emulation. Cultural exchanges are an inexhaustible driving force for evolving China-EU relations.

At the same time, China and the EU should control and manage their differences properly. The two sides have different positions and practices in areas such as promoting democracy and human rights, and from time to time, their relations have suffered because of ideology and other factors.

With economic and trade relations and contacts between the two sides growing, China-EU competition and frictions have been on the increase. Yet, on the whole, the two sides have more common elements than differences, and more cooperation than competition. The two sides should view and handle these issues with a historical and comprehensive approach and prevent them from harming their overall relations.

The global economic recovery continues at a snail's pace. It has already seriously undermined the welfare of people across the world, and weakened their faith in the future.

As major emerging and developed economies, China and the EU should first ensure stability and growth in their respective domains and, on that basis, work together to oppose protectionism, uphold a just and open international trade and financial order, and advocate a new approach for international economic governance. This is the best way to achieve prosperity and development in the world.

The global financial crisis, the European sovereign debt crisis and the political upheavals in West Asia and North Africa show, among other things, that countries are entering a period of deep transition and adjustment where different ideas and different models clash with one another fiercely.

China and the EU both are supportive of a world of diversity and co-existence. They should act with an inclusive mentality, respect the choices made by the peoples of other countries, support countries to explore the paths of development best suited to their national conditions, refrain from imposing their opinions upon others or meddling in others' affairs, and make even greater efforts to promote harmony and development in the world.

Looking ahead, I am full of confidence in the future of China-EU relations. We will work with our European partners with the correct assessment of the new situations, new objectives and new tasks for strengthening China-EU relations.