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Joint Statement of the 7th China-EU Summit
12/09/2004
On December 8 2004, the 7th China-EU Summit was held in
The Hague. A Joint Statement was issued after the
meeting. The Joint Statement is as follows:
1. The Seventh Summit meeting between China and the
European Union was held in The Hague, The Netherlands,
on 8 December 2004. The EU was represented by the
President of the European Council, Prime Minister of the
Netherlands, Mr Jan Peter Balkenende, President of the
European Commission, Mr Jose Manuel Barroso and the
Secretary General/High Representative for the EU Common
Foreign and Security Policy, Mr Javier Solana. China was
represented by the Premier of the State Council of the
People's Republic of China, Mr Wen Jiabao.
2. Minister of Foreign Affairs of The Netherlands, Mr
Bernard Bot, the European Commissioner in charge of
External Relations, Ms Benita Ferrero-Waldner, the
European Commissioner for Trade, Mr Peter Mandelson,
Chinese Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Li Zhaoxing and
Chinese Minister of Commerce, Mr Bo Xilai also
participated in the Summit.
3. The Leaders reviewed the development of China-EU
relations and welcomed the progress made since the Sixth
Summit meeting. The two sides agreed that there had been
frequent high-level visits and effective dialogues and
cooperation in all fields between the two sides, guided
by the two policy papers issued by both sides and
further defined at the China-EU Seminar in February
2004. The two sides looked forward to celebrating their
bilateral achievements on the occasion of the 30th
Anniversary of official relations between China and the
EU in 2005.
4. The Leaders briefed each other on developments in
China and the EU. China welcomed the new European
Commission and European Parliament, the enlargement of
the EU and the agreement by EU Heads of State and
Government on the treaty establishing a Constitution for
Europe. The two sides affirmed that the deepening and
widening of the EU should contribute to further
strengthening Sino-EU relations. The EU recognized
China's achievements made under the ongoing social and
economic reform.
5. The two sides affirmed that, due to the continuous
development of China-EU relations in recent years, China
and the EU will explore actively the feasibility of
concluding a new China-EU framework agreement.
6. The two sides signed the Joint Declaration on
Non-proliferation and Arms Control whereby they
recognise each other as major strategic partners in the
area of disarmament and non-proliferation. Both sides
agreed that enhanced co-operation between China and the
EU in the non-proliferation area will be conducive to
advancing the multilateral non-proliferation process, as
well as to expanding and deepening their comprehensive
strategic partnership. They identified, in this context,
priority areas for co-operation between the two sides.
7. China and the EU confirmed that China-EU relations in
all aspects have developed significantly in the last
years. In this context they discussed the issue of the
EU arms embargo against China. The EU side confirmed its
political will to continue to work towards lifting the
embargo. The Chinese side welcomed the positive signal,
and considered it beneficial to the sound development of
the comprehensive strategic partnership between China
and the EU.
Both sides reiterated their positions and agreed to
continue consultations on this issue.China reaffirmed
that political discrimination on this issue was not
acceptable and should be immediately removed. The EU
reaffirmed that work on strengthening the application of
the European Union Code of Conduct on arms exports was
continuing.
8. The EU side reaffirmed its continued adherence to the
one China policy, and expressed its hope for a peaceful
resolution of the Taiwan question through constructive
dialogue. The Chinese side appreciated the EU's
commitment to the one China policy and reiterated its
principled position on the Taiwan question.
9. The Leaders believed that the China-EU human rights
dialogue promoted mutual understanding and agreed to
continue this dialogue, while making efforts to achieve
more meaningful and positive results on the ground, as
well as the related bilateral cooperation programme.
They underlined their respect for international human
rights standards provided for in relevant international
human rights instruments, including on the rights of
minorities, and their commitment to co-operate with UN
human rights mechanisms. In this respect, China is
committed to the ratification of the International
Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) as soon
as possible. They also noted the importance of the
International Criminal Court in the global fight against
genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity. The
Leaders underlined the importance of concrete steps in
the field of human rights and reaffirmed their
commitment to further enhance co-operation and exchanges
in this field on the basis of equality and mutual
respect.
10. The Leaders underlined that activities on
facilitating people-to-people exchanges and co-operation
in combating illegal migration are a priority for both
sides. In the spirit of full reciprocity, leaders
discussed issues of readmission and visa facilitation.
They hoped for an early opening of negotiations on these
issues, as soon as technically and juridically possible.
Entry procedures were also discussed. The EU reaffirmed
the importance of China-EU operational co-operation on
combating illegal migration and trafficking in human
being.
11. The Leaders, in welcoming the entry into force of
the milestone Memorandum of Understanding on Visa and
Related Issues Concerning Tourist Groups from the
People's Republic of China (ADS), agreed that tourism
would enhance people-topeople contacts between China and
the EU and deepen mutual understanding. They stressed
the need to ensure an efficient and smooth
implementation of the modalities of the Memorandum of
Understanding.
12. Both sides welcomed the dynamism of their trade
relations, best illustrated by the EU becoming China's
largest trading partner and China becoming the EU's
second largest trading partner in 2004. The Leaders
welcomed the China-EU Business Summit held on the
sidelines of the Summit. They reiterated their
commitment to maximize mutual benefits of such relation
by improving market access and increasing investment
opportunities for both sides.
The Leaders reiterated the importance of fully
implementing their WTO commitments and strengthening the
multilateral trading system. The EU agreed to continue
to assist China's efforts in capacity building and both
sides welcomed the launching of the second WTO support
programme for China in 2004.
The Leaders welcomed the progress made in the DDA in
July and the new momentum in the Doha Round of
negotiations. They agreed to intensify their
co-operation with a view to successfully preparing the
WTO Ministerial Meeting in Hong-Kong. The two sides
underlined that increased bilateral consultations have
helped to make substantial progress in a number of trade
issues, in particular the lifting of trade restrictions
as a result of their increased co-operation regarding
sanitary and phytosanitary measures and technical
barriers to trade and pledged to further intensify their
trade dialogue mechanisms with a view to solving
remaining trade problems. The Leaders expressed their
intention to continue and intensify the efforts made to
fight violations of Intellectual Property Rights.
13. China reiterated its concern on the issue of full
market economy status and underlined the significance it
attaches to resolving this issue for deepening China-EU
relations. The EU welcomed the positive orientation of
China towards building a market economy. Both sides
welcomed the creation of a working group aimed at
actively identifying a practical solution to this issue.
14. During the Summit, the two sides signed the China-EU
Customs Co-operation Agreement which is vital to
facilitate trade and help combat customs violations and
fraud such as counterfeiting, and renewed the China-EU
Science and Technological Co-operation Agreement. The
signing of the agreement on R&D co-operation on the
peaceful use of nuclear energy between the European
Atomic Energy Community (Euratom) and the Government of
the People's Republic of China launches research
co-operation on the peaceful use of nuclear energy and
gives access to research facilities for researchers from
both sides.
The Leaders also endorsed four financing agreements for
new co-operation projects: the China-EU Information
Society Project, the China-EU Managers Exchange and
Training Programme, the China-EU Social Security Reform
Project, and the Erasmus Mundus China Window project.
These projects are under the programme of support for
economic and social reform in China within the China-EU
development cooperation, with EU funding amounting to
?61 million.
15. The Leaders noted with satisfaction progress of
co-operation in all fields. The follow-up agreement on
technical co-operation in satellite navigation (Galileo)
signed in October 2004 enabled China to become the first
non-EU country enjoying full participation in the
Community framework. China's participation opens the
doors for more tangible scientific and industrial
collaboration projects. The two sides welcomed the new
momentum in the energy dialogue after the successful 5th
China-EU Energy Conference. The Leaders expressed their
hope that the China-EU High-level Forum on Science and
Technology (S&T) Policy and Strategy to be held in
Beijing in May 2005 will promote the mutual
understanding on S&T development strategy and deepen the
S&T co-operation relations between China and EU and that
the dialogue on co-operation in space science,
applications and technology will lead to cooperation in
joint projects between aerospace companies and research
institutions from both sides.
16. The Leaders encouraged to promote China-EU
inter-sectoral dialogue and cooperation. They welcomed
the initiative on establishing an China-EU dialogue and
co-operation mechanisms on employment and social
affairs. The Leaders also welcomed first contacts since
the last Summit on issues relating to macro-economic
policy and the regulation of financial markets and
agreed on a process of dialogue in related areas. They
expressed satisfaction with the first talks and
exchanges of views on issues related to balanced
development, regional policies and rural development,
and agreed
to hold an China-EU seminar on regional economic
development next year.
The Leaders welcomed the China-EU Dialogue on
Intellectual Property (IP), and on industrial and
competition policy. They agreed to further explore
possibilities for strengthening their co-operation in
the IP area in particular through further consultation
and co-operation between governments and enterprises,
and through a closer co-operation of IP-related
institutions, including staff exchanges. They supported
the continued dialogue on the Information Society at a
high level.
They noted with satisfaction the results of the second
implementation meeting of the China-EU Maritime
Agreement, at which both sides showed a significant
convergence of views in respect of handling current and
future challenges within the maritime policy context,
and looked forward to further enhancing their bilateral
cooperation on trade and maritime issues in the
international fora. The Leaders, in welcoming the
dialogue progress and the closer China-EU cooperation in
civil aviation, agreed to further deepen co-operation in
this field, including civil aviation industry and
technology, and to solve as a matter of priority
outstanding issues thereby opening the way for a
potential future China-EU Civil Aviation Agreement.
Progress will be reported at the next Summit. China
expressed strong interest in strengthening technological
co-operation and its willingness to participate in
projects other than those in the China-EU civil aviation
co-operation programme. An China-EU Aviation Summit will
be jointly organised in the first half of 2005.
The Leaders expressed their hope that the European
Economic and Social Committee and the China Economic and
Social Council establish a regular dialogue between the
civil society organisations of both sides, which should
be based on the protocol signed by the Presidents of
both institutions in 2002.
Both sides believed that, on the basis of the China-EU
Legal and Judicial Cooperation Programme, strengthening
the exchanges in the judicial field should be further
explored, particularly in the co-operation of training
legal professionals and seeking to establish a bilateral
education and training institute.
17. The Leaders welcomed the fact that many Chinese
students are following graduate studies in Europe
through the China-EU education co-operation mechanism,
particularly the recently launched Erasmus Mundus
programme. They also welcomed the launching in the next
academic year of a specific "China Window" within
Erasmus Mundus. The two sides encouraged and supported
further actions to strengthen education co-operation
between China and the EU.
18. The Leaders welcomed the progress in the China-EU
development co-operation programme, notably in the areas
of economic and social reform, as well as environment
and sustainable development. The EU side expressed its
wish to see more rapid progress in other areas,
particularly the support for the development of civil
society. The two sides noted with satisfaction the
substantial increase in the budget of the 2004
programme.
19. The Leaders underlined their close and productive
dialogue on the ongoing negotiations for the
establishment of the ITER Organisation among China, EU,
Japan, the Republic of Korea, Russia, and the US. The EU
expressed its satisfaction and gratitude to China for
its continuing support of the EU ITER site. The Leaders
looked forward to a rapid conclusion of the ITER site
negotiation.
20. The Leaders reaffirmed their shared commitment to
environmental protection andencouraged efforts to extend
and deepen the high level dialogue in this area. They
stressed that biodiversity conservation and integrated
river basin management are fruitful areas for
co-operation. They also agreed on the health and
environmental benefits arising from reducing emissions
from motor vehicles and agreed to continue to support
China's introduction of the 'Euro' emission standards.
Technology transfer, exchange of information on
methodologies, policy tools and means of implementation
as well as staff exchanges and the implementation of
projects can all be used to develop a dynamic
partnership on environmental issues. Both sides stressed
the importance of further follow-up on the World Summit
on Sustainable Development and of enhancing co-operation
in the context of the United Nations Framework
Convention on Climate Change and its Kyoto Protocol and
welcomed the Protocol's entry into force in 2005.
21. The Leaders underlined the importance of the
implementation of the Declaration of the Commitment on
HIV/AIDS adopted at the General Assembly of the United
Nations in 2001. In face of the truly global nature of
the epidemic, both sides recognised the importance of
increased co-operation to combat HIV/AIDS as well as
other newly emerging infectious diseases, appreciated
the constructive resolutions on strengthening the
capability of global public health adopted at the
General Assembly of the United Nations. They underlined
the importance of the increasing availability of
anti-retroviral drugs and the necessity of preventive
measures, including development of vaccines and
microbicides, harm reduction approaches and promotion of
safer and responsible sexual behaviour. The EU welcomed
China's recent adoption of the newly revised "Law on
Diseases Prevention and Control" covering
nondiscrimination against persons with infectious
diseases, pathogeny carriers and persons with suspected
infectious diseases as an important step to counter
stigmatisation and judgmental approaches to persons at
risk or infected. The EU welcomed that the HIV/AIDS
programme of the Global Fund recently started in China.
China appreciated the EU role as a major contributor for
this Fund, and encouraged EU's continuous and vigorous
financial assistance to China's efforts in HIV/AIDS
prevention and treatment.
22. The Leaders had an in-depth exchange of views on
international and regional issues of common interest.
Leaders reaffirmed the commitment of China and the EU to
promoting peace, security and sustainable development
throughout the world, with the United Nations at its
core. They expressed their strong support for
revitalization and reform of the UN in order to be able
to cope with existing and new challenges and threats,
and underlined that the report of the UN High-Level
Panel should serve as a basis for discussions in this
regard and the need for any plan of reform to be decided
by consensus through consultation. The two sides
stressed the importance of achieving the Millennium
Development Goals and attached considerable importance
to enhancing bilateral and multilateral co-operation in
this area. In this regard, they underlined their strong
desire to make the UN Major Event 2005 a success, and
agreed to support a comprehensive, balanced approach in
the implementation of the Millennium Declaration and of
the Millennium Development Goals, as well as in handling
issues related to peace and security. A successful
outcome of the 13th session of the Commission for
Sustainable Development (April 2005) would be of
importance in this regard.
23. The two sides reaffirmed their commitment to the
fight against terrorism and reiterated that
anti-terrorism action must accord with the purpose and
principles of the UN Charter and the norms of relevant
International Law and fully respect human rights. The
two sides underlined the leading role of the United
Nations with respect to counter-terrorism, and the
importance of the universal implementation of all UN
Security Council resolutions, UN conventions and
protocols related to counterterrorism. They undertook to
support the work for a draft Comprehensive Convention on
International Terrorism. The two sides underlined the
importance of enhanced regional and interregional
co-operation and referred in particular to the
co-operation developed in the framework of ASEM and of
the ASEAN Regional Forum.
24. The Leaders expressed deep concern over the
destabilising effect of regional conflicts. They
welcomed the restoration of full sovereignty to Iraq and
expressed their commitment to the implementation of
UNSCR 1546 in support of the political process in Iraq,
including elections in 2005. They agreed to work
together in the multilateral effort for Iraq's
reconstruction and the restoration of peace and
prosperity.
China and the EU appreciated their respective efforts in
facilitating a political resolution of the Iran nuclear
issue. China and the EU welcomed the agreement reached
between France, Germany and the UK, supported by the
High Representative, and Iran on Iran's suspension of
enrichment related and reprocessing activities. Both
China and the EU hoped that progress will be made in the
negotiations of the EU with Iran on a mutually
acceptable agreement on long-term arrangements, that
should include objective guarantees that Iran's nuclear
program is exclusively for peaceful purposes, and that
the Iran nuclear issue will be resolved within the
framework of the
IAEA at the earliest opportunity.
The two sides stressed their firm commitment to the
reconstruction and stabilization of Afghanistan, in
co-operation with the Afghan Government. They welcomed
the October presidential elections. The Leaders agreed
on the goal of a nuclear-weapons free Korean Peninsula
and expressed the conviction that the issue could be
settled peacefully through dialogue. The EU praised
China's crucial and active role in promoting the
continuation of the Six-Party Talks. The Leaders
expressed the hope that the DPRK would continue to take
positive steps to participate more fully in the
international community. The Leaders exchanged views on
the situation in Burma/Myanmar.
25. The Leaders expressed their satisfaction with the
excellent atmosphere and the substantial results
achieved at this Seventh Summit meeting. They stressed
their resolve to further expand and deepen China-EU
relations, towards a rapidly maturing comprehensive
strategic partnership between China and the EU.
This
material is produced independently for NTI by the James Martin
Center for Nonproliferation Studies at the Monterey Institute of
International Studies and does not necessarily reflect the
opinions of and has not been independently verified by NTI or
its directors, officers, employees, agents. Copyright © 2007 by
MIIS.
