Interview: EU says new EU-China pact to encompass full scope of bilateral ties

European Union (EU) external relations commissioner Benita Ferrero-Waldner, who left for China on Monday to officially launch the talks with China on the new generation framework agreement, said the new pact will encompass the full scope of bilateral relations between the EU and China.

Waldner will be in China from Jan. 16-18, and she is expected to meet some senior Chinese officials. The top objective of her Chinese tour is to officially launch the talks on the new generation agreement, or Partnership Cooperation Agreement (PCA) in the EU's jargon, together with Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing.

"The new PCA will encompass the full scope of bilateral relations between the EU and China, including enhanced cooperation in political matters, and will update the existing 1985 Trade and Economic Cooperation Agreement," Waldner said during an exclusive interview with Xinhua on Monday before she boarded the plane to China.

To conduct the talks, the commissioner said there will be one set of negotiators on each side, though trade matters will be handled in a relatively independent manner. On the EU side, the negotiations will be led by the European Commission, the executive arm of the EU.

The commissioner said the details should be discussed with the Chinese side during her trip in Beijing.

On the structure of the future pact, Waldner said it wound not follow the model of so-called "Four Common Spaces" as in the agreement between the EU and Russia.

"The Partnership and Cooperation Agreement with China will be legally binding, and comprehensive," she added.

In September 2006, the EU and China agreed in Helsinki to launch the talks on the new PCA, aimed to update the 1985 Trade and Economic Cooperation Agreement, which currently constitutes the legal basis governing the EU-China relations.

The commissioner said the new pact would reflect all the changes in our relationship since 1985.

According to the commissioner, currently there are 22 sectoral dialogues between the EU and China.

"So, in addition to trade, the new agreement will provide a comprehensive framework for our work together on energy, the environment, agriculture, transport, customs, education, information society, science and technology, space cooperation, sustainable development, migration, and international challenges such as terrorism and weapons of mass destruction," she said.

On the question of how to tackle the sensitive issues like human rights, arms embargo and market economy status, the commissioner said the two sides would not bypass those issues.

"We discuss with our Chinese partners even the most sensitive issues, and I think that this is the proof of the maturity of our partnership," she added.

On the arms embargo, Waldner said the EU is "ready to work towards the lifting of this measure, but further work is needed on both sides to create the conditions in which it could be abolished. "

As to Market Economy Status, the commissioner said it is a " technical issue," but the EU is "aware of the political importance that China attaches to it."

"There will shortly be an update of the assessment that the ( European) Commission carried out in 2004. There is no doubt that some progress has been made," she added.

Finally, the commissioner said the EU prizes its relationship with China.

"This strategic partnership is key to achieving progress in our goals, from global security to addressing climate change," she said.

"Together we represent one third of the world's population. How we act, how we assume our responsibilities, and how we cooperate together, makes a difference to the whole planet. That is why it is so important that we should work together," she added.

Source: Xinhua