Relations between China and the European Union were further
cemented on Friday as leading diplomats found common ground in
their push for stronger bilateral relations.
"We need each other," Serge Abou, head of the EU delegation said
at the opening of a high-level international conference marking the
50th anniversary of the European Union in Beijing on Friday.
"The EU needs a prosperous and stable China while China needs a
prosperous and stable EU. Europe does not consider China a
threat."
Li Ruiyu, director of the Department of European Affairs of the
Chinese Foreign Ministry, told the Chinese and European delegates
that China and the European Union do have "different views", but
both sides had found "effective ways to handle the differences to
further develop our partnerships".
China's economy is making its presence felt on the world stage.
Nearly 30 years ago its earnings accounted for roughly 0.5 percent
of the world's total.
Today, that figure is growing, accounting for about 7.5 percent,
a figure Abou said was "phenomenal".
Acknowledging the existence of low living standards in parts of
China he had visited, Abou said the country had accumulated
significant industrial, scientific, space and financial power.
A strong partnership between the EU and China will benefit both
sides, he said, adding that Europe has become the first destination
for Chinese students to study overseas.
Some 1.5 million Chinese tourists visited Europe last year but
that number could grow to 5 million in the future.
Wu Jianmin, president of China Foreign Affairs University and
executive vice-president of the China National Association for
International Studies, said China and EU must open new frontiers
for cooperation, such as dealing with climate change.
"We (China) need advanced technologies from the EU to improve
energy efficiency," Wu said, referring to greenhouse gas
reduction.
But the EU should make the technologies affordable for China and
other developing countries, he said.
Meanwhile, Wu rejected some European media claims that China had
taken jobs away from the Europeans. Last year, China imported
services and products worth US$90 billion from Europe, which should
have created 1 million jobs in Europe.
(China Daily March 31, 2007)
