Sino-EU relations stepping into maturity: commentary

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Tuesday, October 21, 2003

Sino-EU relations stepping into maturity: commentary

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The Chinese Government issued China's EU Policy Paper on October 13 and on the same day, EU's new China policy document on China submitted by European Commission was passed at EU's foreign ministers' meeting. It seems to be a mere coincidence, but actually it indicates a tacit understanding on the development of bilateral relations and further shows that the two sides attach a great importance to the sustained and healthy development of the bilateral relations. We can say that the Sino-EU relation now is in the best opportune moment in history and is experiencing a further development.

Soon after the release of China's EU Policy Paper, Romano Prodi, president of the European Commission (EC) issued a statement by saying that China's action "will further promote the dialogue and cooperation between China and EU". And he expected that "the best way" to fulfill the bilateral wish on cooperation will be decided with China at the Sino-EU Summit by the end of October.

EU sets great store by the development of the Sino-EU relations, which can be proved by a simple example. In a short span of eight years since EU released the first China policy document in 1995, it has issued five documents concerning its China policy in order to cater to the on-going bilateral situations. It is something rare to see that EU revised its China policy documents so often when developing the relations with a big country. What's more, China's status is continually upgraded in EU's diplomatic strategy, from the "long-term cooperation relationship" in 1995 to the "all-round partnership" in 1998, which is promoted to the "strategic partnership of cooperation" in EU's newly-adopted China policy document this year.

After the reform and opening-up of over twenty years, China, with the rapid development, the upgrading international status and the improving economic power, has become "one of EU's strategic partners of cooperation" which is of great importance in the world. Especially during the recent years, China has been more active in participating in international affairs and played a role of more and more importance. In the issue of Korean Peninsular, China's special role has been highly praised by EU. In upholding the standing and effect of the UN, China share the same position with the EU. And EU also regards China as an important power in safeguarding the world peace, stability and sustained development, and both sides all devote themselves to promoting the development of multi-polarization. It is clear that China has merged more into the world and become an important member in the present-day international community.

Besides, the economic and trade relations between China and EU have developed quickly and China has become the third large trade partner of the EU. According to the statistics of EU, the bilateral trade value has reached 115 billion Euro in 2002 with more and more companies from EU members to invest and favor the huge potential market in China. China and EU have also gained great achievements in sci-tech fields, and a new treaty is being discussed for the expansion of bilateral cooperation in future.

After all, China and EU share wide-ranging and mutual interests both in political and economic fields, and it is because of this that the bilateral relations can be developed steadily and become mature. Especially, there are no conflicts of regional interests between China and EU, and both sides don't support the unilateralism in the international affairs and advocate the multi-polarization of the world. EU hopes to see a powerful China and China also hopes that EU plays a more important role in the international affairs. It can be said that the further development of the relations between China and EU is not only in the interests of both sides but can also do good to the establishment of a new international political and economic order in a fairer and more reasonable way.

Frankly speaking, in the Sino-EU bilateral relations there are some issues, which are not very satisfactory. However, compared with the mainstream, these questions can be solved easily. If both sides cherish good political wishes, Sino-EU relationships will beyond doubt gain a further development.

By PD Online Staff Liu Wei

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