6 May 2004
1. Following the invitation of Romano Prodi, President of the European Commission, Premier Wen Jiabao of the People's Republic of China paid an official visit to the Headquarters of the European Union on 6 May 2004. This was the Premier's first official visit to the EU Headquarters, and follows high level visits to China by President Romano Prodi in April and Secretary General/High Representative Javier Solana in March. Premier Wen's visit had particular significance for the promotion of mutually beneficial cooperation between the two sides and the further development of the China-EU comprehensive strategic partnership. The intensity of these high-level contacts is testimony to the depth and vigour of the rapidly growing partnership between China and the EU.
2. Other high level participants in the discussions included on the Chinese side, Minister of Foreign Affairs Li Zhaoxing, Minister of the State Development and Reform Commission Ma Kai and Minister of the General Administration of Customs Mou Xinsheng and on the EU side Commissioner for Trade Pascal Lamy, Commissioner for Competition Mario Monti, Commissioner for Transport and Energy Loyola de Palacio, Commissioner for Internal Market Frederik Bolkestein, Commissioner for Research Philippe Busquin and Commissioner for Enterprise and Information Society Erkki Liikanen.
3. Leaders briefed each other on developments in China and the EU. They stressed the excellent state of the China-EU relationship and identified priority areas for China-EU cooperation in the years to come. They agreed that both China and the EU were at important stages in their respective development. They had fruitful exchanges on bilateral relations, international and regional issues of common interest such as the key role of multilateralism, ASEM, the situation on the Korean Peninsula, Myanmar and Iraq, and discussed the importance of further strengthening cooperation and working together to safeguard and promote world peace, stability and development.
4. Leaders welcomed the results of the China-EU Seminar on their respective Policy Papers, which was successfully held in Beijing in February this year. They agreed that the outcome of the Seminar had helped in identifying further areas for strengthened China-EU cooperation and in defining the direction of the China-EU relationship. They agreed that competent departments on both sides should now, wherever possible, work on implementation of the measures proposed. They also expressed the hope of continuing with the useful exchange of views that had commenced at the Seminar on the possibility of modernising the China-EC 1985 Trade and Economic Cooperation Agreement.
5. The Chinese leader noted the ongoing discussions within the EU on the possible lifting of the embargo on arms sales to China and hoped that a decision on its lifting would be made as soon as possible so as to further enhance the political trust and cooperation between the two sides.
6. Leaders were of the view that the current international situation was undergoing profound and volatile changes with increasing uncertainties that posed a threat to world peace and development. China and the EU should endeavour to maintain international security on the basis of mutual trust, mutual benefit, equality and cooperation; uphold the vital role of the United Nations in maintaining peace, stability and security and promoting sustainable development throughout the world, and promote multilateralism and democracy in international relations. Leaders stressed the importance they attach to international cooperation in the fields of non-proliferation, arms control, disarmament and counter-terrorism, and expressed the hope that consultations on these issues between the two sides be intensified. They expressed in particular their support for efforts to promote non-proliferation of WMD in line with the international law. President Prodi noted the EU's appreciation of China's continuing efforts to promote a peaceful solution to the Korean nuclear issue through diplomatic dialogue.
7. President Prodi reaffirmed the EU's 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.
8. Leaders agreed that the continuing China-EU human rights dialogue had facilitated mutual knowledge and understanding and they expressed their readiness to further strengthen cooperation and communication in the area of human rights on the basis of equality and mutual respect. They reconfirmed their commitment to work towards achieving more meaningful and positive results on the ground. They underlined their respect for international human rights standards provided for in the relevant international human rights instruments. The two sides confirmed their commitment to cooperate in China's effort to effect early ratification of the United Nations International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.
9. Leaders agreed that important new agreements, which were struck in the margins of the meeting, would contribute significantly to cooperation between China and the EU. In particular a China-EC Agreement on Customs and Mutual Administrative Assistance was initialed, which will further facilitate the ever-growing bilateral trade flows and contribute to the joint fight against operations in breach of customs legislation including infringements of intellectual property rights, a major concern for both sides. Furthermore, a Joint Declaration on GALILEO Cooperation was signed.
10. Leaders called for reinforced cooperation on combating illegal migration and took note of the upcoming High Level Consultations on Combating Illegal Migration and Trafficking in Human Beings, scheduled for late May 2004 in Brussels, in which the two sides would discuss readmission issues,legal migration and facilitation of people-to-people exchanges. A possible cooperation agreement would also be discussed during these consultations. Leaders expressed the hope that this would, among others, help both sides settle the outstanding issues in this field.
11. Leaders welcomed the rapid development of China-EU trade and economic relations and agreed that growth in quantitative terms should be matched by an improvement in quality in order to ensure balanced and sustainable long term development of our bilateral ties in this domain. Leaders also pledged to promote the development of two-way investment between China and the EU. Without prejudice to both sides' respective rights and obligations, leaders agreed to promote, through consultation and dialogue, the rapid solution of bilateral trade and economic issues.
12. They reaffirmed their shared commitment to support a strong rules-based multilateral trading system. They agreed to deepen their bilateral cooperation to jointly contribute to the successful continuation and conclusion of the multilateral trade negotiations round launched in Doha, and to work closely together to ensure a balanced outcome of these negotiations.
13. They also welcomed the launch of the new Trade Policy Dialogue on multilateral, regional and bilateral issues, the first meeting of which will take place in June 2004, and the establishment of the China-EU Textiles Trade Dialogue. And they agreed that the first meeting of the recently agreed formal Dialogue on Intellectual Property Rights would take place in autumn of this year, with the objective of improving communication and cooperation on the protection of intellectual property rights and in view of the establishment of a long-term strategy on IPR enforcement to be supported by EU technical assistance programmes.
14. While acknowledging the efforts already made by China in the area of WTO compliance, President Prodi reiterated the EU's hope that China would make more progress in this regard and in this context the leaders exchanged views on some specific issues. Both sides stressed the importance they attached to these matters. The Chinese side emphasized that it would continue its efforts in ensuring China's WTO compliance.
15. The Chinese side reiterated its request for an early solution of the full market economy status issue while emphasizing China's efforts and achievements in her striving for market economy. President Prodi confirmed that a preliminary assessment of this issue, without prejudice to the final result, would be transmitted to the Chinese side by the end of June 2004. The two sides underlined the importance they attached to this issue. Commission President Prodi stressed that the EU would continue its serious examination of it.
16. Leaders expressed appreciation of the success of the many sectoral policy dialogues that have developed between China and the EU. They particularly welcomed today's signature of the Terms of Reference of a competition policy dialogue and looked forward to forging new dialogues in other areas, such as macroeconomic policies and financial market regulation. They also encouraged the early sharing of experience on regional policy, bearing in mind China's interest in achieving balanced development.
17. Leaders reaffirmed China and EU's joint commitment to environmental protection, welcomed the achievements made by the China-EU ministerial dialogue on environment and expressed their willingness to deepen practical cooperation in this area, notably through the EC's development assistance programme.
18. Leaders also agreed to enhance dialogue mechanism in the area of energy strategy, policy, development and reform with a view to activating exchanges and cooperation. They encouraged the departments concerned to start consultations as soon as possible on an agreement on cooperation in the field of peaceful use of nuclear energy.
19. Leaders expressed support for wider and deeper bilateral cooperation in the area of civil aviation. They agreed on the need to develop a new framework for China-EU civil aviation relations, including the need to explore a possible solution acceptable to both sides in response to the recent legal developments in the EU. They also expressed support for the implementation of an ongoing China-EU civil aviation project.
20. Leaders welcomed the entry into force, on May 1, 2004, of the landmark Agreement on Approved Destination Status (ADS), which will facilitate Chinese group tourism to Europe, and stressed that people-to-people contacts between China and the EU were of crucial importance.
21. Leaders also agreed that the EU's new Erasmus Mundus Programme which promotes exchanges in higher education should include a specific "China Window", so as to enhance educational partnership and the flow of students, especially Chinese students coming to Europe.
22. Leaders looked forward to the 7th China-EU summit, to be held in the Netherlands under the forthcoming Dutch Presidency of the EU later this year. This would provide another important opportunity to further deepen the strategic partnership.
23. Leaders agreed that celebrations should take place next year on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and the EU.
