I. The Political
Aspect
1. Strengthen the exchange of
high-level visits and political dialogue
--
Maintain close contacts and timely communication between the
two sides at high levels through various
means.
-- Give full play to the functions of
the China-EU annual summit by substantiating its content,
stressing its practical results and strengthening bilateral
coordination.
-- Implement in real earnest
China-EU agreement on political dialogue and constantly
improve and strengthen mechanisms of regular and irregular
consultations at all levels.
-- Deepen
relations with all EU members, including its new ones so as
to maintain stability and continuity in the overall
relationship between China and EU.
2. Strictly
abide by the one-China principle
The one-China
principle is an important political cornerstone underpinning
China-EU relations. The proper handling of the Taiwan
question is essential for a steady growth of China-EU
relations. China appreciates EU and its members' commitment
to the one-China principle and hopes that the EU will
continue to respect China's major concerns over the Taiwan
question, guard against Taiwan authorities' attempt to
create "two Chinas" or "one China, one
Taiwan" and prudently handle Taiwan-related issues. In
this connection, it is important that the EU
--
Prohibit any visit by any Taiwan political figures to the EU
or its member countries under whatever name or pretext; not
to engage in any contact or exchange of an official or
governmental nature with Taiwan authorities.
--
Not to support Taiwan's accession to or participation in any
international organization whose membership requires
statehood. Taiwan's entry into the WTO in the name of
"separate customs territory of Taiwan, Penghu, Jinmen,
Mazu" (or Chinese Taipei for short) does not mean any
change in Taiwan's status as part of China. EU exchanges
with Taiwan must be strictly unofficial and
non-governmental.
-- Not to sell to Taiwan any
weapon, equipment, goods, materials or technology that can
be used for military purposes.
3. Encourage
Hong Kong and Macao's cooperation with EU
The
Central Government of China supports and encourages the Hong
Kong and Macao Special Administrative Regions in developing
friendly relations and cooperation with the EU in accordance
with the principle of "one country, two systems"
and the provisions of the two Basic Laws and on the basis of
equality and mutual benefit.
4. Promote the
EU's understanding of Tibet
China encourages
personages of various circles in the EU to visit Tibet and
welcomes the support of the EU and its members to Tibet's
economic, cultural, educational and social development and
their cooperation with the autonomous region subject to full
respect of China's laws and regulations. The Chinese side
requests the EU side not to have any contact with the
"Tibetan government in exile" or provide
facilities to the separatist activities of the Dalai
clique.
5. Continue the human rights
dialogue
There are both consensus and
disagreements between China and the EU on the question of
human rights. The Chinese side appreciates the EU's
persistent position for dialogue and against confrontation
and stands ready to continue dialogue, exchange and
cooperation on human rights with the EU on the basis of
equality and mutual respect so as to share information,
enhance mutual understanding and deepen cooperation in
protecting, inter alia, citizens' social and cultural rights
and the rights of the disadvantaged.
6.
Strengthen international cooperation
-- Enhance
China-EU consultation and coordination on major
international and regional hotspot issues.
--
Strengthen China-EU cooperation at the UN and work together
to uphold the UN's authority, promote its leading role in
safeguarding world peace and facilitating economic and
social development, particularly in helping developing
countries eliminate poverty, improving global environment
and drug control, and support UN's reform.
--
Advance the process of Asia-Europe cooperation. China and
the EU should work together to make ASEM a role model for
inter-continental cooperation on the basis of equality, a
channel for exchange between the oriental and occidental
civilizations and a driving force behind the establishment
of a new international political and economic
order.
-- Jointly combat terrorism. Both China
and the EU are victims of terrorism and are strongly opposed
to all forms of terrorism. Both sides are also opposed to
any linkage between terrorism and any particular country,
nation, ethnic group or religion. China and the EU should
keep in close touch and cooperation on
counter-terrorism.
-- Jointly safeguard the
international arms control, disarmament and
non-proliferation regimes and step up consultation and
coordination on the basis of mutual respect; strengthen
exchange and cooperation on non-proliferation and export
control and the prevention of weaponization of and arms race
in outer space; jointly contribute to the resolution of the
issue of anti-personnel landmines and explosive remnants of
war; and enhance cooperation in implementing the
international arms control treaties.
7. Enhance
mutual understanding between Chinese and European
legislative organs
The relations between the
National People's Congress of China and the parliaments of
EU member countries and the European Parliament are an
important link in China-EU ties. The Chinese Government
welcomes and supports the enhancement of exchange and
dialogue between Chinese and European legislatures on the
basis of mutual respect, deeper understanding, seeking
common ground while shelving differences and developing
cooperation.
8. Increase exchanges between
political parties in China and the EU
The
Chinese Government wishes to see an increase of exchange and
cooperation between the Communist Party of China and all
major EU political parties, parliamentary party groups and
regional organizations of political parties on the basis of
independence, complete equality, mutual respect and
non-interference in each other's internal
affairs.
II. The Economic
Aspect
1. Economic Cooperation and
Trade
China is committed to developing
dynamic, long-term and stable economic cooperation and trade
with the EU and expects the latter to become China's largest
trading and investment partner.
To this end, it
is important to:
-- Give play to the mechanism
of the economic and trade joint committee and step up
economic and trade regulatory policy dialogue; give
attention to updating the Trade and Economic Cooperation
Agreement Between China and the European Union at an
appropriate time; properly address irrational restrictions
and technical barriers, ease restrictions on high-tech
exports and tap the enormous potential of technological
cooperation and trade in line with the WTO rules; grant
China a full market economy status at an early date, reduce
and abolish anti-dumping and other discriminatory policies
and practices against China, and apply the Transitional
Product-Specific Safeguard Mechanism (TPSSM) prudently; and
compensate the Chinese side for its economic and trade
losses which may arise due to the EU
enlargement.
-- Boost China-EU coordination and
cooperation in the new round of WTO negotiations and work
together for the success of the
negotiations.
-- Strengthen dialogue on
investment, promote the establishment of bilateral
investment-promotion institutions, energetically encourage
and guide mutual investments between enterprises of the two
sides, and expand cooperation between their small- and
medium-sized enterprises; develop processing trade,
contractual projects and labour cooperation of various kinds
and encourage transnational business operation and
internationalised production.
-- China welcomes
more EU development aid, especially in such fields as the
environmental protection, poverty-alleviation, public health
and hygiene and education. China also welcomes a stronger
and more active role of the EU in human resources
development, in particular, personnel training for China's
central and western regions and build-up of China's capacity
of participating in multilateral trading
regime.
-- Step up cooperation in the area of
quality supervision, inspection and quarantine, establish
appropriate consultation mechanisms and, subject to the
principle of ensuring safety, security, hygiene, health and
environmental protection, promptly address and resolve
issues which may adversely affect market access of each
other's products.
-- Boost the customs
cooperation and conclude a China-EU Customs Agreement in due
course.
2. Financial
Cooperation
China and the EU should launch a
high-level financial dialogue mechanism, expand exchanges
between their central banks on policies and deepen
cooperation in preventing and managing financial crises and
combating the financing of terrorism and money laundering.
The Chinese side welcomes an expansion of China-related
business by banks of the EU countries and hopes to see an
appropriate settlement of the issue of Chinese financial
institutions' access to the EU market.
The
Chinese side will positively examine and consider
applications of EU insurance institutions for business
operation in China and improve its supervisory and
regulatory regime in line with the Chinese insurance laws,
regulations and statutes and China's WTO
commitments.
Cooperation in securities
legislation, market supervision and regulation, and
investment operation will be strengthened and more EU
securities institutions, fund management institutions and
other institutional investors will be encouraged to enter
into China's market. Chinese securities institutions will be
encouraged to enter into the EU's securities market when
conditions are ripe. In the meantime, Chinese enterprises
will be strongly supported to raise funds in the EU's
securities market.
3. Agricultural
Cooperation
Exchanges between China and the EU
in such fields as agricultural production, processing
technology of agricultural produce and sustainable
development will be intensified. The mechanism of the
agricultural working group should be given a role to play.
Bilateral cooperation between agricultural research
institutes, universities and colleges as well as enterprises
should be pushed forward. EU Enterprises are encouraged to
take an active part in agricultural development in China's
central and western regions and invest in such fields as
agricultural high and new technologies, intensive processing
of agricultural produce and development of agricultural
infrastructure.
4. Environmental
Cooperation
China-EU communication and
cooperation in environmental protection should be stimulated
and a mechanism of dialogue between the Chinese and EU
environmental ministers launched. Framework documents on
environmental cooperation should be formulated, and
discussions held on the establishment of information network
on environmental cooperation. Bilateral cooperation should
be strengthened on such issues as environmental legislation
and management, climate change, bio-diversity protection,
bio-safety management, and trade and environment. Efforts
should be made to jointly promote the implementation of the
follow-up actions of the World Summit on Sustainable
Development in Johannesburg. Non-governmental environmental
protection organizations are encouraged to develop mutual
exchanges. EU enterprises are encouraged to gain more access
to Chinese environmental protection market through fair
competition.
5. IT Cooperation
The
Chinese side would like to see the EU participation in
China's IT promotion. The mechanism of the EU-China working
group on information society will be strengthened. Exchanges
and dialogue will be conducted on strategies, policies,
rules and regulations of information society. Trade in IT
products and industrial and technological cooperation will
be actively boosted. Greater exchanges in intellectual
property rights and technical standards will be encouraged.
Cooperation in the field of "Digital Olympics"
will be promoted.
6. Energy
Cooperation
China-EU cooperation will be
expanded in such fields as energy structure, clean energy,
renewable energy, and energy efficiency and saving.
Exchanges on energy development policies will be promoted.
Efforts will be made to ensure a successful EU-China Energy
Conference. The energy working group mechanism will be
strengthened. Training on energy technology and cooperation
in demonstration projects will be boosted to promote
application and transfer of technology.
7.
Transport Cooperation
A mechanism of China-EU
regular meeting will be set up within the framework of the
China-EU Agreement on Maritime Transport. Cooperation in
maritime transport and other maritime fields will be
developed and coordination and cooperation in international
organizations such as the International Maritime
Organization (IMO) will be strengthened. Bilateral exchanges
will be deepened and broadened in respect of policies of
inland river transport, navigation safety and shipping
standardization. Cooperation and exchanges in highway
technology and management will be expanded. Dialogue and
exchanges on highway transport legislation will be
strengthened.
China-EU exchanges in civil
aviation will be deepened. Chinese and EU enterprises are
encouraged to strengthen their cooperation on production,
technology, management and
training.
III. The Education,
Science-Technology, Culture, Health and other
Aspects
1. Cooperation in Science and
Technology
It is essential to promote China-EU
scientific and technological cooperation on the basis of the
principles of mutual benefit and reciprocity, sharing of
results and protection of intellectual property rights.
Joint development and cooperation on generic technologies
and major technical equipment should be stepped up and
Chinese institutions are encouraged to participate in the EU
Framework Programme for Research and Technological
Development. China will, on the premise of equality and
mutual benefit and a balance between interests and
obligations, participate in the Galileo Programme and
enhance cooperation in international "big science"
projects. Full play should be given to the role of the
Scientific and Technologic Cooperation Steering Committee
and efforts should be made to ensure a successful
China-Europe Science & Technology and Innovation Policy
Forum. Cooperation between scientific and technological
intermediary agencies of the two sides as well as the
interflow and training of scientific and technological human
resources should be encouraged. Support should be given to
Chinese and EU enterprises in their involvement in
scientific and technological cooperation.
2.
Cultural Exchange
China will be more open in
cementing and deepening its exchange and cooperation with EU
members in the cultural field and work towards a multi-level
and all-dimensional framework of cultural exchanges between
China and the European Union, EU members and their
respective local governments, and between their peoples and
business communities so as to make it easier for the people
of China and the EU to get to know each other's fine
cultures.
China will establish Chinese cultural
centres in capitals of EU members and the EU headquarters --
Brussels. On the basis of reciprocity and mutual benefit,
China welcomes the set-up of cultural centres in Beijing by
the EU side. China will encourage high quality cultural
exchange activities and explore new modalities of
cooperation in culture-related industries. Discussions will
be held on the formation of a China-EU cultural cooperation
consultation mechanism and the idea of jointly holding a
China-EU cultural forum.
3. Cooperation in
Education
Exchanges at all levels will be
enhanced and expanded. It is necessary to establish a
China-EU education cooperation consultation mechanism as
appropriate and strengthen cooperation in areas including
mutual recognition of academic credentials and degrees,
exchange of students, language teaching, exchange of
scholarships and teacher training. Work should be done to
make a success of the China-Europe International Business
School and bring forth more top professionals. The teaching
of each other's languages should be encouraged and
supported.
4. Cooperation in Health and Medical
Care
Cooperation in the health sector should be
strengthened, particularly in sharing experience of
prevention and control of SARS, HIV/AIDS and other serious
diseases. Efforts should be made to develop exchanges in
clinical diagnosis and treatment, epidemiological
investigation, analysis and surveillance, laboratory
testing, R&D for medicines and vaccines, and training of
medical personnel. Exploratory endeavour should be made for
the establishment of a mechanism to keep each other informed
and provide technical support in case of emergent public
health hazards.
5. Press
Exchange
Exchanges and cooperation will be
boosted between the press and media communities of the two
sides. Chinese and EU media agencies should be encouraged to
enhance mutual understanding and give comprehensive and
unbiased reports of each other. Relevant government
departments or agencies of the two sides should enhance
mutual contact and communication and share practices and
experience in respect of government press release and the
handling of government-media relations.
6.
Personnel Exchange
People-to-people exchanges
and those between non-governmental organizations of China
and the EU should be encouraged. China is ready to conclude
as early as possible agreement on designating EU countries
as tourism destinations for outbound Chinese citizens in
compliance with the principles of equality, reciprocity and
mutual benefit.
China-EU consular cooperation
should be strengthened and expanded. An early solution
should be found through consultations to the problem of
difficult access to entry visas by Chinese citizens and
their impeded entry into EU countries. The legitimate rights
and interests of travellers should be protected. Normal
people-to-people exchanges between China and the EU should
be ensured.
It is imperative to combat illegal
migration and human trafficking, strictly enforce laws and
crack down on illegal activities and crimes. The two sides
should increase consultations and coordination and
appropriately handle the question of repatriation and other
issues arising therefrom.
IV. The
Social, Judicial and Administrative
Aspects
1. Cooperation in Labour and
Social Security
China and the EU should
strengthen cooperation on employment of legal immigrants and
protection of the rights and interests of migrant workers
and enhance coordination in international labour affairs.
The two sides will negotiate and conclude a bilateral social
security agreement and implement their joint social security
cooperation programme as well as broaden exchanges in social
insurance of various kinds.
2. Exchange in
Judicial Field
It is necessary to continue with
the China-EU cooperation programme in the legal and judicial
fields based on equality and mutual respect, broaden related
areas of cooperation, enhance exchanges in judicial reform
and other key areas and explore cooperation with respect to
administration of justice in combating cross border crimes.
The two sides should do more in sharing experience of legal
supervision and explore the possibility of establishing a
mechanism of annual meeting between their high-level
judicial officials.
3. Cooperation in Police
Affairs
The Chinese side will establish and
strengthen exchanges with relevant EU agencies and EUROPOL,
broaden substantial cooperation with law-enforcement organs
of EU members and step up coordination in case handling and
information sharing within their respective legal framework.
The two sides should support and actively participate in UN
peacekeeping and other activities.
4.
Cooperation in Public Administration
China and
the EU should share experience in transforming government
functions and deepening personnel management reform, discuss
the establishment of a China-EU cooperation mechanism on
personnel and administrative management and conduct
exchanges in civil service system building and human
resources development.
V. The Military
Aspect
China and the EU will maintain
high-level military-to-military exchanges, develop and
improve, step by step, a strategic security consultation
mechanism, exchange more missions of military experts, and
expand exchanges in respect of military officers' training
and defence studies.
The EU should lift its ban
on arms sales to China at an early date so as to remove
barriers to greater bilateral cooperation on defence
industry and technologies.
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