The European Union (EU) hopes its strategic partnership with China would be as comprehensive and solid as possible, EU High Representative for the Common Foreign and Security Policy Javier Solana told Xinhua on Friday.
"Our bilateral relations with China are very good. China is among the few strategic partners of the EU in the world. We want this partnership to be as comprehensive and solid as possible," said Solana in a written interview with Xinhua on the occasion of the 10th China-EU summit due next Wednesday in Beijing.
"I believe that the development of EU-China political relations is one of the key achievements of our strategic partnership," he added.
Solana said the regular summit meetings help both sides "take stock of how this partnership is developing."
In his view, the EU- China summit has far more than mere symbolic value. "There are important objectives that we can achieve together in terms of increasing engagement in international affairs and global issues -- in particular on Africa, climate change and energy," he said.
The first China-EU summit took place in London in 1998.
The summit has become "an important mechanism" for both sides to enhance understanding, reduce disputes, increase mutual trust and advance cooperation, Chinese Ambassador to the EU Guan Chengyuan told Xinhua earlier this week.
Solana noted that the contacts -- both formal and informal -- on a great variety of subjects between the two sides have been intensified.
The EU foreign policy chief said the EU welcomes the emergence of China "as a major actor in the international system" based on its "policy of peaceful development."
"In particular, we are pleased with China's efforts to address the nuclear question in the Korean Peninsula and with its constructive role on other important issues, such as the situation in Myanmar," he said.
On EU-China cooperation in the international arena, Solana said consultation between the two sides on major international issues such as Iran, the Middle East, Myanmar, the Korean Peninsula and Kosovo, as well as on global challenges such as climate change, "play an important role in promoting world peace and stability."
"I am extremely happy about the close contacts I personally have with my Chinese counterpart, Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi. We have met at least four or five times this year alone to discuss issues of common concern," he said. "This plays a crucial role in our efforts to address international challenges."
He noted that the EU and China have expanded common ground and cooperation thanks to "a full and effective political dialogue mechanism."
Economic and trade relations between the two sides have been developing rapidly in recent years. China is now the EU's second largest trading partner, while the EU is China's largest trading partner.
"The EU and China are becoming each other's most important economic and trade partners. This is due to the great efforts deployed by both sides over the past 10 years," said Solana.
"Bilateral economic cooperation and trade have become one of the most important driving forces behind the strengthening of our strategic partnership," he said.
On trade frictions and other challenges, Solana said both the EU and China need to discuss "regular actions" to be taken to ensure a balanced trade and economic partnership that benefit both sides.
China and the EU launched negotiations last January on a new Partnership and Cooperation Agreement to replace the outdated 1985 Trade and Economic Cooperation Agreement.
"It is true that our relationship has developed so significantly that it has become necessary to put it on a more comprehensive legal basis. That's why we have launched negotiations on a Partnership and Cooperation Agreement," said Solana.
He said the negotiations are "going well" and "tangible progress" has been achieved.
"I am confident that further significant progress will be made in the coming months, although it is probably too early to predictwhen the new agreement will be in place," he said.
Asked about the prospects for China and the EU to cooperate on Africa, Solana said the dialogue between the two sides has been developing well since the last EU-China summit and that many of the issues discussed have seen significant developments, notably on Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
"Cooperating to achieve political stability, economic growth and poverty reduction in Africa is in the interests of both China and the EU and, above all, the Africans themselves," he said.
He said both the EU and China have contributed "considerably" to the progress achieved on African issues. "We should build on this in the future," he said.
The EU and Africa have agreed on a Joint EU-Africa Strategy anda first Action Plan to be adopted at the EU-Africa Summit in December in Lisbon, he added.
"Our cooperation with Africa, notably through the African Union, plays an increasingly important role regarding the global challenges we are confronted with, such as climate change, terrorism, non-proliferation and migration," he said.
"These challenges obviously require even closer cooperation and coordination with China in the future," he added.
On the thorny issue of the EU's arms embargo against China, which is at odds with the fast-growing bilateral ties, Solana said, "I realize the importance of the issue, for us both."
He confirmed the EU's willingness to move forward toward the lifting of the embargo.
"I can confirm that we are willing to carry forward work towards lifting the embargo on the basis of the Joint Statement ofthe 2004 EU-China Summit and subsequent European Council Conclusions," he said.
On the issue of the full market economy status of China, Solana said it is "a complex technical issue."
He said the EU is "satisfied with the progress made so far." However, he urged China to do more to win recognition of the 27-member bloc.
The EU has not granted recognition of China's full market economy status as many countries did.
China has repeatedly urged the lifting of arms ban and the EU's recognition of the full market economy status of China.
At the EU-China summit in Helsinki last year, Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao said resolution of the two outstanding issues "complies with Europe's own interests," adding that "the earlier the problems are resolved, the more benefits it could bring."
On the Taiwan issue, Solana told Xinhua that the EU is "firmly committed to the One-China Policy".
"Good cross-straits relations are crucial for peace and security in the region and the whole world," he said. "We also believe that cross-straits problems should be solved through dialogue and peaceful means."
He said neither side should do anything which would inflame tensions and jeopardize regional stability.
"Our interest is in the promotion of dialogue, practical cooperation and confidence building. We support and welcome all efforts to seek a mutually acceptable basis for discussion," he added.
Meanwhile, Solana expressed concerns about Taiwan authorities' move to pursue a referendum on the UN membership in the name of Taiwan, calling it "not helpful."
"There should be no statements or actions which might raise tension across the strait and which might be perceived as a unilateral change in the status quo. For that reason, we consider this initiative as not helpful," he said.
On the Beijing Olympic Games next August, Solana said it would be "an extremely important event, which will show to the world the progress China has made in the last two decades."
He also said that China can count on cooperation from the EU in the run-up to the Games and during the Games to ensure a smooth operation.
"I am looking forward to the Olympic Games in Beijing," he said.
Source:Xinhua
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