On November 24, 2009, the Foreign Ministry held a briefing for domestic and foreign media on the upcoming 12th China-EU Summit. Vice Foreign Minister Zhang Zhijun and Director General of the Department of European Affairs of the Ministry of Commerce Sun Yongfu introduced the Summit and Deputy Director-General of the Information Department of the Foreign Ministry Qin Gang hosted the briefing.

Zhang said that the 12th China-EU Summit will be held in Nanjing on November 30, 2009. At the invitation of Premier Wen Jiabao, Swedish Prime Minister Reinfeldt whose country holds the EU rotating presidency, President of European Commission Barroso and EU High Representative for the Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP) Solana will attend the Summit. As the highest-level bilateral political dialogue mechanism, the Summit plays a unique role of guiding the development of China-EU relations. The two sides will mainly exchange in-depth views on such topics as China-EU relations, international financial crisis and climate change. The Summit will be held against three special backgrounds:

First, with the joint efforts of both sides, China-EU relations have generally maintained a sound momentum of development and both sides have kept frequent high-level contacts since the beginning of this year. Premier Wen’s visit to EU in early 2009 was a “journey of confidence” and the 11th China-EU Summit was held in Czech in May this year. China and EU hold close communications on major international and regional issues. Under the influence of the international financial crisis, China-EU trade volume this year dropped compared with 2008, but its proportion to China’s total foreign trade remained basically the same as in previous years. EU is still the largest trade partner of China. China-EU dialogue and cooperation in science and technology, finance, education, culture and other areas have achieved fruitful results and cultural exchanges enjoy a sound momentum. The Europalia-China Arts Festival and the China Leading Guest Country Event at the Frankfurt Book Fair in October 2009 have both received warm responses. The first China-EU strategic partnership seminar was held successfully in Beijing recently, which, as a major supporting event for China-EU Summit, has enhanced the public opinion foundation of China-EU relations. The two sides will celebrate the 35th anniversary of bilateral diplomatic ties next year. The 12th China-EU Summit will not only be the last event on China-EU relations before the end of this year but also open a new page of and inject new vigor into China-EU relations.

Second, the EU Summit held last week elected new EU leaders including the Permanent President of the European Council, EU High Representative for the CFSP and Vice President of European Commission and the Treaty of Lisbon will go into effect on December 1, 2009, which marks a major progress and a new stage of EU integration. EU is actively improving its internal mechanism and seeking a bigger role in international affairs. China consistently supports EU integration, respects its strategic choices made according to its own conditions and characteristics, attaches importance to its role in international affairs, resolutely pushes forward the bilateral all-round strategic partnership and hopes EU’s development will facilitate the growth of China-EU relations.

Third, the impact of the international financial crisis still exists and various global issues such as climate change, terrorism and emerging infectious diseases grow more and more serious. The world is undergoing major development, major changes and major readjustments. It is the common consensus of the international community to strengthen cooperation, support each other and pull through together. China is the largest developing country while EU is the biggest group of developed countries. China-EU relations enjoy ever rising strategic significance. We hold many identical or similar opinions on promoting world peace and development and have a solid foundation for cooperation in advancing the reform of international financial system and coping with climate change. China and EU can jointly make great contributions to the harmonious development of the world. The Copenhagen conference on climate change will kick off soon after the 12th China-EU Summit. With common goals on climate change, China and EU have established partnership on the issue and conducted effective dialogue and cooperation. Prior to the Copenhagen conference, the two sides should reinforce coordination and strengthen cooperation on climate change, which serves the common interest of both sides and will facilitate the efforts of the international community of handling climate change and promote positive results of the Copenhagen conference.

Zhang noted that the Chinese side expects to realize the following three objectives during the Summit:

First, enhance China-EU strategic mutual trust, strengthen support for each other’s development path, further deepen understanding of the strategic meaning of China-EU relations and make clear the basic principles of mutual respect, equal treatment and win-win cooperation in order to consolidate the political foundation of bilateral ties.

Second, make overall planning for bilateral dialogue and cooperation in the fields of politics, economy and trade, energy, culture and education, identify the direction of cooperation, boost cooperation confidence and raise cooperation level so as to consolidate the common interests of bilateral relations.

Third, demonstrate determination of cooperation on global issues, jointly promote the harmonious and sustainable development of the world, adhere to the firm stand against all forms of protectionism and make concerted efforts to promote positive outcomes of the Copenhagen conference in order to highlight the global significance of bilateral ties.

Zhang said that the Chinese and EU leaders will attend the signing ceremony of cooperation documents on science and technology, economy and trade, environmental protection and industry following the Summit, participate in the opening ceremony of the 5th China-EU Business Summit and deliver important speeches. Premier Wen will also meet with Reinfeldt, Barroso and leader of Eurogroup respectively, after which President Hu Jintao will meet with the EU leaders in Beijing.

Zhang noted that Jiangsu province has dynamic cooperation with EU. Last year, the province’s foreign trade with EU made up 18% of China-EU total trade volume. Many well-known EU companies have investment in Jiangsu which is a forerunner of transition of economic growth mode in China. Not long ago, the State Council approved the Development Planning of Coastal Areas of Jiangsu, which will create new business opportunities for foreign companies, including those of EU member countries. During the Summit, Premier Wen and EU leaders will visit the outcome exhibition of cooperation between China and EU. Leaders of EU will also visit local Jiangsu businesses and have the opportunity of learning about the local economic, social and cultural development. We believe the Summit to be held in Nanjing will help the Chinese and EU people to better understand the fruitful achievements and great potential of bilateral cooperation and advance the cooperation at local level.

He said that China and EU have initially decided to issue a joint outcome document following the Summit. At present, the two sides are actively discussing the text of the document. In order to make political preparations for the Summit, Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi will hold talks with the foreign ministers of EU "Troika" in Nanjing on November 29, 2009.

He pointed out that China and EU both attach great importance to the Summit and have maintained close communications and coordination on related preparations. With the concerted efforts of both sides, the Summit will achieve full success and send out a positive signal to the rest of the world that China and EU will forge ahead side by side, cope with challenges jointly and promote world peace, stability and sustainable development together.

Sun stressed that economic and trade relationship is a major component of China-EU all-round strategic partnership. The bilateral economic and trade relations have generally moved forward healthily. China-EU trade volume reached US$425.5 billion last year, increasing by 19.5% over the previous year. According to the Chinese statistics, from January to October this year, China-EU trade volume numbered US$292.4 billion, decreasing by 18.7% over the same period of last year, but the decrease margin has narrowed for 6 months in a row. The percentage of China-EU trade to China’s total foreign trade volume has been kept at about 17%. According to EU statistics, from January to August this year, EU’s total export dropped by 19% over the same period of last year, but its export to China only fell by 3%, indicating the decreasing EU’s trade deficit with China. China and EU enjoy fruitful technological cooperation and EU has always been China’s biggest partner in the technological field. As of September this year, the contract value of China’s technological import from EU has accumulated to US$125.2 billion. In terms of investment, by September this year, EU’s actual investment in China has reached US$66.5 billion, making it the 4th biggest source of foreign investment in China. In particular, EU’s investment in China continues growing despite the negative growth of global investment since the beginning of this year. China has dispatched 10 trade and investment promotion delegations to EU since the outbreak of international financial crisis, showing with tangible actions that it resolutely pursues the opening strategy featured by mutual benefit and win-win outcomes, firmly opposes trade and investment protectionism and is determined to join hands with EU to address the crisis. China encourages and actively supports competitive Chinese enterprises to conduct trade and investment cooperation in European countries and welcomes more European enterprises, technologies and products to China.

He said that economic and trade cooperation is a major topic of the Summit and of great significance to promoting China-EU relations. China is willing to work with EU to faithfully implement the outcome of the Summit in order to lift the bilateral economic and trade relations to a new level.

He indicated that the 5th China-EU Business Summit is an important supporting event for the 12th China-EU Summit. With the theme of green economy and sustainable development, the Business Summit has initially set the following topics: green economy leading global economic growth; exploration and innovation boosting sustainable development; reshaping post-crisis international trade with confidence; prospects of economic and trade relations between Yangtze River Delta and EU. Those activities are expected to serve as an effective platform for entrepreneurs of both sides to step up cooperation and exchanges.

The above-mentioned officials also answered questions of journalists.