July 12, 2000, Premier Zhu Rongji concluded his Europe tour. Foreign Minster Tang Jiaxuan, who accompanied the Premier on the tour, evaluated that this successful visit has achieved the aim of deepening mutual understanding, enhancing friendship and cooperation, and promoting the development of Sino-European relations. He described as a vital Chinese diplomatic move in Europe, the Premier's six-nation tour which took him to Bulgaria, Germany, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Italy, Belgium and the European Union (EU) headquarters from June 27 to July 12, 2000.


During the visit, Premier Zhu held talks with leaders of the six nations and the EU on a wide range of issues, including differences, Foreign Minister Tang told reporters.


They achieved common understanding on a number of major international issues, including the U.S. National Missile Defense (NMD) program and the Theater Missile Defense (TMD) program, developments in Asia and Europe, and the reform of the United Nations.


Zhu had extensive contacts with local industrial, business and financial communities and delivered speeches on China's economic situation.


A total of 13 co-operation accords were signed with the six nations. Tang said that this fruitful tour would further consolidate and advance the bilateral political relations between China and the six nations and the 15-nation EU.


Zhu emphasized that China adopts a positive approach in developing bilateral relations with the above-mentioned countries and that China is willing to strengthen bilateral political dialogue and consultations at all levels on the basis of mutual respect, equality, mutually benefit and seeking common ground while reserving differences, Tang said


In Bulgaria, Zhu said that China respects the Bulgarian people's choice of their development path, and attaches great importance to developing the traditional friendship between the two peoples.


During his visits to the five EU member states and the EU headquarters, Zhu expressed China's support for the ongoing integration process in Europe, and called on the EU to further play its active role in the establishment of a just, reasonable international political and economic order.


Meanwhile, Zhu elaborated on China's basic stance of "peaceful reunification" and "one country, two systems" on resolving the Taiwan issue. He expressed appreciation to those countries that have kept their promises on the Taiwan issue while criticizing the conducts of breaking promises on the said issue.


All the six nations and the EU expressed their firm support for China's early entry into the World Trade Organization (WTO), and reiterated that they will continue to pursue the one China policy while refraining from developing official ties with Taiwan.


Secondly, Zhu's visit further promoted the economic and trade relations between China and those countries, Tang noted.


Zhu briefed the hosts on China's economic situation and development prospects. He said China's economy is experiencing an upturn after getting rid of the negative impact brought about by the Asian financial crisis.


In future, China will maintain a rapid, sound and sustainable economic growth, make bigger strides in restructuring its economy, reforming the economic system and effectively implementing the opening-up policy in a broader range, Zhu said.


China's strategy to develop its western region will inject new


vitality into its economy, he added.


With China's entry into the WTO and the deepening of its opening-up policy, the country will further open its market, improve its laws and regulations and optimize the investment environment.


In response, leaders of the six European countries and the EU and the business circles all expressed their strong desire to expand economic, trade and financial cooperation with China.


The Bulgarian leaders reaffirmed that the country is working to promote its relations with China, especially hoping to develop bilateral economic, trade and technological cooperation.


Entrepreneurs from western European states indicated that they are willing to involve themselves in developing China's western region and have put forth many ambitious investment plans. At the same time, medium- and small-sized enterprises have shown great interest in entering the Chinese market, hoping to get support from both the Chinese and their own governments.


Tang said that Zhu's visit to the six European countries and the EU Executive Commission promoted mutual understanding and expanded common ground.


It is normal for China and those European countries to have different views on human rights, since they have different histories, cultures, values and political systems with their economic development at different stages, Tang said.


During his visit, Zhu discussed their differences with leaders of the European countries and the EU commission. But in contrast with the past, this time those countries affirmed China's great progress in human rights and stressed their willingness to hold further dialogues with China on the issue, Mr. Tang said.


Luxembourg's Prime Minister Jean-Claude Juncker said differences between countries should be respected and that he opposed teaching other countries lessons on the human rights issue.


The Netherlands expressed its willingness to cooperate with China on training juridical professionals, while Italy said different political systems should not affect normal bilateral ties and normal contacts.


China signed an agreement with Germany on judicial cooperation and exchange. The EU said it would seek more fruitful dialogues with China on the human rights issue, based on the nine dialogues on the topic and four seminars on justice already held.


The Premier's official visit also deepened Sino-EU relations, said Tang.


The year 2000 will see the 25th anniversary of the establishment of official relationship between China and the EU. Under the circumstances of multi-polarization and economic globalization, the EU has taken China as the key factor in its Asia policy while readjusting its internal and external policies, he said.


Developing Sino-European ties constitutes an important part of China's foreign policy because the EU is a major player in the international arena, he said.


To have a closer Sino-EU relationship is the common aspiration of the two sides and are in the interests of both China and the EU, he added.


During the visit, Zhu exchanged views with EU leaders on the further development of Sino-European relations and achieved important common ground in terms of deepening cooperation in all fields, Tang said.


Tang added that there are no direct conflicts of interest between China and the European countries, and that the two sides share identical or similar positions on many international issues.


China and Europe, both are exerting ever-greater influence in world affairs, prefer multi-polarization to unipolarization, he said.


"We believe the Chinese delegation's successful visit to the six European countries and the EU headquarters will definitely push China's relations with these countries and the EU to a higher level," Tang said.