Negotiations between the European Union and China on a new cooperation framework will be difficult due to the wide scope of subjects involved, said Mr. Dirk Sterckx in Beijing on November 21. Mr. Sterckx is leading the delegation from the European Parliament on their China tour.

Mr. Dirk believes that this round of talks- to be started soon - will be even harder than those that led to the signing of the original pact in 1985, because there is so much more on the agenda now. It will not only be a trade agreement, but also a political one, which he thinks will not be easy to reach.

The talks are also expected to involve people-to-people exchanges in the fields of education, culture and tourism.

The delegation of 21 is in China for the 23rd Inter-parliamentary Meeting between the European Parliament and the National People's Congress of China, held in Beijing and Wuhan from November 20 to 25.

Mr. Dirk has seen a very large basis for agreement between the EU and China in meetings with his Chinese counterparts during the trip. Political, economic and social topics are all discussed at the meetings. He said they agree with China on almost all issues. It was more about the exchange of opinions than disputes, he noted.

This is the first trip to China undertaken by the current European Parliament, elected to office in 2004. Mr. Dirk said that henceforward, China and the EU will make yearly visits to one another. He stressed that frequent and regular contact is very important to improving the relationship.

The delegation will visit some of the construction sites of venues for the Beijing Olympics in 2008 and go to Yichang where the Three Gorges Dam is located.

By People's Daily Online