People's Daily Online held an interview last week with Mr. Serge Abou, Ambassador of the European Commission to China, about the 10th EU-China Summit, to be held in Beijing on November 28, and the EU-China partnership. The following summarizes the main points from the interview.
The Summit: in-depth discussions on a variety of bilateral and international issues
The leaders will talk about anything they want to talk about; regardless of whether it is a topic on the agenda prior to the meeting. But the main streams of discussion up to now clearly indicate the subjects for discussion at the summit. It will begin by examining the situation on both sides. Both China and the EU are more confident after the 17th National Party Congress and the adoption of the Treaty of Lisbon.
Mr. Serge Abou, the EU Ambassador to China.Next, there will be an overall review of the EU-China partnership. In the 10 years since 1998, when the first Summit was held, the partnership has deepened and expanded. This Summit will give leaders an opportunity to collaborate on energy savings, climate change, and higher education. And the leaders will probably give impetus to the talks on the new partnership and cooperation agreement – the PCA – which is the legal framework for the future partnership. The negotiation that began in January this year is still under way.
The concerns of both sides will be subject to discussion. On the Chinese side, for example, the pending issues are the EU's weapons embargo and granting market economy status to China. China may also express its concerns about the Taiwan issue. Europe, on the other hand, will raise the question of its growing trade deficit with China. The main authorities of the euro zone (referring to Jean-Claude Juncker, President of Eurogroup; Jean-Claude Trichet, President of European Central Bank; and Joaquin Almunia, European Commissioner for economic and monetary affairs) will meet with the authorities of the Chinese central bank and Finance Ministry before the Summit. The discussions at the Summit will be also based on those talks.
China has adopted a strong policy to tackle the issues of environment and energy savings. As a result, climate change is a point at which the two sides can converge. The leadership may give positive signals in this regard at the Summit.
The international situation will also be discussed, including issues concerning Iran, Korea, Africa, and the Middle East peace process. The question of Kosovo will be mentioned as a matter of foreign policy; and the European side intends to raise the question of Myanmar.
The partnership: mature partners on equal footingBoth sides are satisfied with the current state of the partnership. Public opinion in Europe holds a good image of China, and China harbors a good image of Europe. Favorable public opinion is a very precious asset to the relationship; we should maintain this support in order to cultivate this partnership.
It has been the policy of the European Union that the success, stability and prosperity of China are beneficial to the European Union. Ten years ago, China was just beginning to integrate into the global system; and the European Union was facilitating its integration. The convergence of both sides on this objective created a "honeymoon" period for China-EU relations.
Now China is not only an important part of the international system; but is also a protagonist in the system. It is the world's leading trade power. Its economy is almost equal to that of Germany, and it retains immense financial reserves. It is also a scientific power. And it is taking on more positive roles in international affairs, such as its involvement in UN peace-keeping missions. However, China is still a developing country, and its western provinces are even less developed.
The European Union defines its relationship with China as a good partnership. Today, it is a mature partnership on more equal footing compared with the "honeymoon" period, when one was facilitating the other.
The European Union does not consider competition to be contradictory in a partnership. China, like the US, is a partner of the EU as well as a competitor. Within the EU, there is also competition. For Europe, competition at a level playing field is healthy.
Engines of the partnership: trade essential, more fuel from people-to-people exchangesHistory proves that trade has been the most efficient engine for the EU-China partnership because trade involves millions of people on both sides: importers, exporters, and workers. Many products Europeans use everyday are from China; and half of what China produces goes to Europe.
Today, there is an even better, well-developed engine. A better understanding and encounters between people: not only leaders, but also opinion shapers, businessmen, politicians, and people of culture, are all essential for maintaining a positive relationship.
Tourism is a good example. Millions of visitors to and from China and the EU are not a huge number. But considering the distance and the cost of travel, it is a good start and will certainly multiply.
The exchange of students is another engine. There are 120,000 Chinese students in Europe and that number will increase.
There are still not so many Chinese investors in Europe, but they will come. They are just learning how to do business in Europe.
Europe has 25-30 years of experience in developing alternative sources of energy, and fixing prices and standards. Europe is ready to share their experience in energy savings, the environment and climate change; and to promote cooperation in these areas.
The engines are in place. The question remains how to push more fuel into these engines.
Challenges: solving problems in a spirit of cooperationProblems are like microbes in life. The reality is that problems exist. The essence of the partnership is to face these problems and to solve them in an equitable and concerted way. One example is product safety. On one hand, the European Union has taken sanitation precautions that protect European consumers. On the other hand, their commissioners came to China and agreed to mutually monitor the quality of products with their counterparts, on both ends of trade.
The magnitude and growth of the EU's 150 billion euro of trade deficit with China, approximately the same level of the US deficit with China, is one of the EU's biggest concerns. The EU is aware of China's policy not to accumulate surplus and to target a more balanced trade. It hopes that this practice will guard the partnership against a protectionist trend. A decreasing trend in the deficit will be regarded as progress.
Europe also hopes that China's pursuit for the greater satisfaction of domestic needs will alleviate the pressures of trade. Chinese people save too much, and spend too little. A better social security system is needed to change this.
Development in China and Europe: China's domestic needs and Europe's reformFrom an outsider's perspective, the scientific way of development proposed by China is a promising implication for the future. The prospect of more balanced development within China, and the country's efforts to preserve the environment, will benefit the Chinese people firstly and then the rest of the world.
The European Union is a historical, economical and cultural necessity. A single European country alone cannot deal with global issues like the environment. And Europeans are accustomed to using a single currency and traveling around Europe for work, study, and marriage.
The new treaty will reform European institutions and make them function better within the 27-member European Union – 50 years after it was first founded. The new treaty is not only necessary, but also good for Europe; and good for each member of Europe. It will certainly be ratified within a year.
The global context: the "win-win-win" prospectThe adoption of the new treaty gives more political confidence to the EU. As always, Europe is facilitating resolutions to international crises. For instance, the EU will attend the international conference on the Middle East peace process in Annapolis, Maryland, in the US, on November 27 – one day before the EU-China Summit.
China believes that there should be a multi-polar world built on democracy; and in which each country's voice is taken into account. China and Europe both agree that the UN system should be reinforced.
Peace, development, an equitable world, and international laws based on open international negotiations through equal partnerships, are what the international community would like to encourage. Europe sees much convergence in these views with China. This is a good reason to cultivate a partnership with China.
Europe and China should, for example, aid development within the African continent. China's involvement in Africa is beneficial, and Europe is the main foreign protagonist in Africa. The two partners should discuss their respective Africa policies and make their efforts more efficient and beneficial to the development of Africa.
Europe and China should set a good example for the rest of the international community. Their partnership should not only create a "win-win" situation, but also a "win-win-win" situation. It only makes sense if it can also benefit the rest of the planet.
By People's Daily Online
Comment
Tell A Friend
Print Format
Save Article