A joint statement released by the 10th China-EU Leaders Meeting
in Beijing Monday praised the positive development of China-EU
relations over the past decade.
The statement said that, since the establishment of the China-EU
Summit in 1998, leaders from the two sides had seen bilateral
relations move forward and agreed that China-EU relations have made
historical progress.
Leaders expressed their satisfaction with the comprehensive
cooperation between the two sides in broad fields and at all
levels, and with the growing maturity of the China-EU comprehensive
strategic partnership, said the statement.
It said leaders from the two sides welcomed the development of
China-EU political relations: "They hold that the full and
effective political dialogue mechanism established between the two
sides had played a positive role in enhancing mutual understanding
and trust, and expanding common ground and cooperation, and serves
as an important foundation for stronger China-EU political mutual
trust."
The two sides recalled the deepening and expanding economic
cooperation and trade, and emphasized that China and the EU are
becoming each other's most important economic and trade partners.
Thanks to efforts by both sides over the past 10 years, bilateral
economic cooperation and trade had become one of the most important
driving forces for further strengthening of the China-EU
comprehensive strategic partnership.
Chinese and EU leaders also discussed the necessary actions to
be taken to achieve a more balanced trade and economic partnership,
according to the statement.
"China-EU consultation and coordination on major international
and regional issues as an important part of the overall China-EU
comprehensive strategic partnership, had played an important role
in promoting world peace, stability, and sustainable development,"
said the statement.
Additionally, the EU welcomed the 17th National Congress of the
Chinese Communist Party, and the application of its Scientific
Outlook on Development.
The statement said China and the EU hold that the current world
is now undergoing extensive and profound changes, and that as
comprehensive strategic partners, both at a crucial stage of
development, China and the EU would, upholding the spirit of
democracy, harmony, and collaboration, continue to work together to
promote democracy in international relations and advance a more
balanced development of economic globalization.
"They would work to promote human civilization, be committed to
the peaceful settlement of international disputes, support each
other and make concerted efforts to jointly safeguard planet Earth
for the benefit of all mankind," said the statement.
The joint statement of the 10th China-EU Leaders' Meeting said
leaders of both sides stressed the great importance they attached
to the issue of climate change, and their willingness to strengthen
cooperation to jointly meet the serious challenge.
It said the leaders reviewed the bilateral cooperation under the
China-EU Partnership on Climate Change and called for progress to
be made, including research of near-zero emissions of coal power
generation technology through carbon capture and storage, as well
as development of concrete cooperation projects to strengthen
China's participation in the Kyoto Protocol's Clean Development
Mechanism. The leaders agreed to step up their efforts to further
enhance the bilateral cooperation, including their cooperation on
technology development and transfer.
China and the EU agreed to actively implement the rolling work
plan of the China-EU Partnership on Climate Change covering the
period 2008-2009, including cooperation on province-level climate
change programs in China, climate change adaptation strategies, and
public awareness initiatives, said the statement. China and EU are
committed to moving forward in the UN forum and called on all
parties to actively and constructively participate in UNFCCC
Conference in Bali in December 2007.
Leaders of both sides witnessed the signing of a framework loan
of 500 million euros (US$733 million) to China from the European
Investment Bank to support projects that contribute to combating
climate change, said the statement.
The European Union (EU) also reaffirmed its commitment to the
one China policy and said it doesn't support Taiwan's proposed
"referendum on UN membership," according to the statement.
The 10th China-EU summit was held on November 28 and attended by
Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao, Prime Minister Jose Socrates of
Portugal, which currently holds the European Union (EU)'s rotating
presidency, and European Commission President Jose Manuel Durao
Barroso.
(Xinhua News Agency December 4, 2007)
