Keynote Address by Ambassador Song Zhe at the Breakfast Meeting of the Bureau the People's Party at the European Parliament

Vice President Kasoulides,
MEPs and Friends,

I am very pleased to be invited to this breakfast meeting and exchange views on China-EU relations with friends of the bureau of the People's Party at the European Parliament. First of all, may I extend my new year greetings to all of you, because according to Chinese lunar calendar, today is the 10th day of the first month of the Year of the Tiger.

Over the past year, China-EU relations have maintained stable and sound development. Leaders of the two sides met four times within the year, such frequency rarely seen in recent years. The release of three joint documents highlighted the global and strategic implications of China-EU strategic partnership in the context of the current international situation. Despite the impact of international financial crisis, economic cooperation and trade between China and the EU continued its positive momentum. For seven consecutive years, the EU has maintained its position as China's largest trading partner. Last year, EU investment in China kept on increasing, making the EU China's third-largest source of foreign investment. Our cooperation in other fields also witnessed breakthrough last year. We organized the first China-EU high-level forum on literary translation, the first China-EU forum on cultural industries, the first expert-level consultations on China-EU cooperation in trade statistics, the first China-EU education policy seminar, and the first health and food security dialogue. These have altogether brought new vitality to our relations. The Frankfurt International Book Fair, with China being the main guest of honor, and the recently concluded Europalia-China Art Festival, have brought people from both sides closer to each other. In view of this, we are rejoiced at the achievements of China-EU relations.

At present, China-EU relations enter into a "post-Lisbon Treaty" and "post-financial crisis" era. This is what I call a "double transition" period. The next few years could be a defining moment and strategic opportunity for China-EU relations. During this period, China and the EU, in building our relations, need to adapt and conform to the changes of times, and make efforts to put our relationship at its rightful place in the future international pattern.

I have noticed that, along with the development of China and the EU, and the evolution of international situation, some in Europe become skeptical about China's development and China-EU relations in one way or another. From last year's Power Audit of China-EU Relations by Francois Godement, to this year's Rethinking China's Peaceful Rise by Charles Grant, a number of commentaries reflect a sense of distrust and insecurity towards China's development, and a pessimistic mood towards China-EU relations.

In my view, in the "post-Lisbon Treaty" and "post-financial crisis" era, the historic force that drives forward China-EU strategic partnership has not weakened, but strengthened. The prospect for the development of China-EU relations, instead of becoming desolate, will become even brighter. Over the past few decades, the EU's integration and China's peaceful development have not only brought real benefits to the people of China and Europe, but also made important contributions to world peace and development, linking our two ancient civilizations ever closely. Today, with globalization and multi-polarization gaining momentum, China and the EU represent the world's two major positive force for peace, and stand as each other's important and indispensable partner, who can be reliable and trusted upon in building joint response to global challenges. To further strengthen China-EU comprehensive strategic cooperation, not only serves our future growth, but also serves world peace, development and progress.

Promoting China-EU relations requires strategic thinking, courage and vision. It also requires observation, planning and management with a historical perspective. Neither China's reform and opening-up nor the EU's integration has any precedent to follow. China's reform and opening up is like "crossing the river by feeling the stones", and perhaps the same could be said for the EU integration, especially after the Lisbon Treaty. We both started something new and have been forging ahead unremittingly towards our ideals. We both have overcomed many obstacles and hardships and there are many ahead. We both rejoice at moments of success, and feel frustrated at setbacks. However, the direction to move forward is clear and firm. The EU remains committed to promoting its integration, and China stands committed to the path of peaceful development. China will continue to firmly support the EU integration process, and we also hope that the EU understands and supports China's peaceful development.

It must be noted that for China-EU relations, there are still some problems or hidden worries. If not properly handled, they may have a negative impact on China-EU relations. These problems can be summed up as two major gaps:

First, the gap between substance and coverage. China-EU relations are healthy and fruitful in substance. We are comprehensive strategic partners, important trading partners and we have sophisticated political dialogue mechanism. The scope and the depth of cooperation between China and EU are among the best in big-power relationships.

But in recent years, China-EU relations seem to give people an impression that there are a lot of problems. The main reason is that differences and problems between China and Europe are often artificially amplified and highlighted. In order to attract attention, some media are keen to explore and inflate problems and differences in China-EU relations. Some people understand clearly that China and the EU will not be able to bridge their gaps of concept on issues such as human rights in short term, yet for various reasons, they would keep on making irresponsible remarks publicly on China's internal affairs from time to time. To make matter worse, in order to stock up personal political capital, some even challenge the bottom line on issues concerning China's core interests, which brings damage to the political atmosphere between the two sides and trigger public antagonism. Over time, people's understanding and impressions of China-EU relations gradually deviate from the right track and began to focus more on negative factors, such as human rights. It is indeed regrettable that things would have gone this way.

Secondly, the gap between interest and knowledge. China and the EU both enjoy an ancient and splendid culture, which is deeply attractive to each other. Both have strong interest to know more about each other and understand each other. Not long ago, our mission held some functions to present the Chinese New Year to the European Parliament, the opening ceremony alone attracted more than 600 guests and friends. On the next day of the opening, the European Parliament held a session of informal dialogue on relations with China, the number of participants was double than expected, and many people were standing till the end of the session. This is a vivid portrayal of Europe's desire to move closer to China and understand China. However, there is still considerable distance between the desire and reality. Frankly, I feel that Europe's understanding of China is far from enough, and many people see China as it was 10 years or even decades ago.

The other way round, China's understanding of Europe also remains to be further improved. European literature and art enthralls generations of Chinese people. Now each year, at least 1 million Chinese tourists come to Europe to visit the Eiffel Tower and the Collosseum. Hundreds of millions of Chinese football fans watch the five major European leagues on TV, and I am one of them. But the Chinese people also have many question marks on the EU. They do not understand whether Brussels has the final say, or the 27 capitals all share the final say? Why some EU countries act as "good guy" as member states, but "bad guy" on the EU front? They do not understand why China is often blamed for some domestic issues that are not taken notice at all if they take place in Europe or the US? Why do Europeans seem to be aloof from the overall human rights progress for 1.3 billion Chinese people, but are particularly interested in the human rights or absolute freedom of a few so-called "human rights defender" or even criminals? Why do they issue irresponsible statements even without some basic knowledge of the actual happenings? They do not understand, why does the EU continue to maintain discriminatory arms embargo against China, when China and the EU are already comprehensive strategic partners for such a long time?

In fact, it is not that difficult to narrow these gaps and create a good political, cultural, and public opinion environment for China-EU relations. Although we are far apart geographically and different in historical and cultural background, we now have many things in common, not least in pursuing peace and development and in cherishing friendship and cooperation. As early as in 1827, Goethe said to his assistant that the Chinese people have almost the same thoughts, behaviors and feelings like us in Europe. I believe, as long as we care about each other's feelings, be sincere to each other, build more understanding and consensus through dialogue and cooperation, and remove misunderstanding and differences with accommodation and trust, China-EU relations will be able to ride safe through the "post-crisis "and" post-Lisbon Treaty" period of transition and bring more benefit to the people of China, Europe and the world.

In this regard, the European Parliament can play a unique and important role. The European Parliament represents the European public opinion. Exchanges between China and the EU's legislative bodies, special committees, as well as political groups, not only enable the two sides to better understand each other's policies, but also help to strengthen people-to-people contacts and narrow the gaps in perception. More importantly, according to my personal understanding, after the Lisbon Treaty, the European Parliament will move from passenger seat in the back to co-driver seat in the front, holding stronger influence and role in the EU's external relations. In this sense, the European Parliament is an important stakeholder of the China-EU relations, and shall play a more positive role, exert more positive influence and make more positive contribution to the development of China-EU relations. The People's Party group, as the largest political group in the European Parliament, is duty-bound in every means. I am confident that the EPP will leave a strong and impressive mark in the history of China-EU relations, as well as in the history of exchange between China and the EU's legislative bodies and political parties.

MEPs and Friends,

As we all are participants in developing China-EU relations, we have a joint mission and share common responsibility. We are not only witnesses of history, but also makers of history. I look forward to working together with the European Parliament and Members of the People's Party group, to build a bridge of understanding and mutual trust between the people of China and Europe, and contribute to long-term, healthy and stable development of China-EU relations.

Thank you.