Making China and the EU Better Partners　

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The successful China-EU Summit held in Prague last week brought greater expectations for stronger cooperation between China and Europe, two economies that account for 30% of the world's GDP and population, two major global traders and international political forces.

China-EU cooperation advances the socio-economic development of both sides. Over that past three decades, China and the EU provided an exemplar case of application of the theory of comparative advantages, whereas both have managed, by the merit of the theory and as the outcome of fruitful cooperation, to optimize economic structure, improve industrial productivity and upgrade the level of development. Bilateral trade rose to a hefty USD 426 billion in 2008, at a flying growth speed in recent years. Many European companies have been reaping bumper harvest from their investment in China, even at this time when business stifles elsewhere.

Given the impact of the financial crisis and economic downturn, the rapport between China and Europe carries special weight for maintaining economic stability and growth. This consensus is not only duly vocalized in the Prague Summit's joint statement but also directs, in practical manner, the joint policy calibration towards more active investment promotion, trade facilitation, multi-sector collaboration and dialogue communication. To make it substantive, three cooperation agreements were signed in the fields of energy, science and technology and medium-and-small-sized enterprises, where the two sides identify great complementarity and vast potential for development. To make it more tangible, China pleaged to dispatch another procurement delegation to Europe in coming days.

China-EU cooperation secures a peaceful environment. People would easily indulge themselves in the post-WWII peace that already lasted for over 60 years. But hot-spot conflicts keep bursting out from time to time and threaten peace of the world. China and the EU are both staunch defenders of international peace and regional stability, and both are conscientious practitioner of defusing crisis through peaceful negotiations. In many cases, our active involvement and sober-minded approach contributed largely to the reasonable settlement of the relevant conflict and effectively forestalled its possible spillover. The Prague Summit reinforced our positive role in this regard, as both sides exchanged views and coordinated positions on a wide-range of ongoing hot issues.

Jointly, China and the EU advocate a fair and reasonable global order. History tells us that an off-balance order ferments contentions and conflicts. Therefore, China and the EU have been actively participating in building a global order that emcompasses balanced, sensible and working mechanisms for international cooperation in all areas. It is to this end, which we believe serves peace and prosperity, that we promote multilateralism, stronger role of the UN and progress of the Doha round. It is also to this end that we, as agreed during the summit, oppose protectionism and support the reform of the international financial institutions. China does not believe that one country or group of countries could solve the global issues all by itself. Likewise, China does not seek hegemony or a so-called G2 regime.

Jointly, China and the EU promote the common interest of mankind. Living in the cradles of civilizations, peoples from China and Europe are proud of our forebears' contributions to human progress and, be it an inherited legacy, willing to dedicate more to the well-beings of the humanity. For instance, the Chinese people have endeavoured to combat the climate change by effectively curtailing the growth of emission with a package of cross-board measures. China observes the principle of Common but Differentiated Responsibilities, and in Prague agreed with the EU to advocate the success of the Copenhagen conference. The Summit also discussed guidelines and measures for stepping up trans-disciplinary collaboration on the climate issue by giving fuller play to each other's advantages, thus laying a solid foundation for further concerted effort towards the common objectives in this realm.

The scope and significance of our cooperation, in addition to the fact that China is the biggest developing country and the EU is the biggest bloc of developed countries and each representing a different culture and social system, bestow upon our relationship irreplacable global dimension and undisputable strategic nature. Without strong cooperation, we will find it a more daunting job to meet our own challenges and those of the world.

Indeed, no partners see eye to eye on all issues. Nor do China and the EU. But as our partnership is defined "comprehensive and strategic", we share a conviction to equality and mutual respect, an aspiration for broader and deeper cooperation and a trouble-shooting platform that is based on more than 40 dialogue and consultation mechanisms. We have every reason for candid exchange of views and practical debate for win-win solutions. If we, in Chinese analogical term mount up the heights and stretch out the sight, namely, examine issues between us more often than not in historical context, from a dynamic perspective, with a global vision and open minds, the clouds will disperse and sunshine will come, and we will become better partners.

More than 30 years ago when China and the EU established diplomatic relations, who could have imagined the state of our interdependence as it is today, such as we are top trading partner to each other and we have indispensible presence in the other's daily life?