Senior officials from China and the European Union (EU) on Tuesday agreed an ambitious roadmap for cooperation in regional policy between China and the 25-member bloc.

On Tuesday, EU Regional Policy Commissioner Danuta Hubner met in Brussels with Vice-Minister Du Ying from the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) of China, aiming to take forward the EU-China Regional policy dialogue launched last May in Beijing.

A press release issued by the European Commission (EC) said both parties agreed on strengthening bilateral cooperation and on the exchange of information on policies contributing to growth, competitiveness and employment.

According to EC spokeswoman Ana-Paula Laissy, three main actions were agreed for further cooperation in 2007: a high level seminar in Brussels to associate most relevant Chinese and EU stakeholders in the field of regional policy; a comprehensive study on definition of Chinese regions, regional statistics and multi-level governance and partnership mechanisms and the promotion of exchange of officials.

"Today we agreed on concrete ways for further cooperation in two fields crucial for both sides: multi-level governance and partnership and definition of regions and regional statistics", said Commissioner Hubner after the meeting.

"The dialogue will help both parties in our common challenge of promoting balanced regional economic development," she added.

According to the commissioner, a high level seminar will take place in Brussels in mid 2007.

Minister Du told Xinhua after the meeting that both sides agreed to take concrete actions to implement the joint statement issued by Chinese and EU leaders on the regional policy cooperation.

The move will further deepen the mechanism construction on the bilateral cooperation, he added.

At the China-EU summit in The Hague of the Netherlands in December 2004, China and the EU launched the cooperation on regional policy. Both sides identified balanced development and regional policy as key areas on which both sides should share information and experience.

Accordingly, the Memorandum of Understanding signed last 15th May in Beijing between the (NDRC) and the EC aims to promote mutual understanding and bilateral cooperation in the field of regional policy and to strengthen the exchange of information.

The NDRC has a key role in the Chinese policy-making system. It is a macroeconomic management government department which formulates policies for economic and social development, maintains a balance of economic aggregates and guides the overall economic system restructuring.

The NDRC develops national economic strategies, long-term economic plans and annual plans and to report on the national economy and social development to the National People's Congress.

Source: Xinhua