Sixth China-EU Summit issues joint press statement

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Friday, October 31, 2003

Sixth China-EU Summit issues joint press statement

The sixth summit meeting between China and the European Union was held Thursday in Beijing. Following is the full text of the joint press statement of the summit:

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The sixth summit meeting between China and the European Union was held Thursday in Beijing. Following is the full text of the joint press statement of the summit:

1. The sixth Summit meeting between China and the European Union was held in Beijing on 30 October 2003. The event was hosted by Premier of the State Council Wen Jiabao of the People's Republic of China. The EU was represented by Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi of Italy in his capacity as President of the European Council, President of the European Commission Romano Prodi and High Representative for the EU Common Foreign and Security Policy Javier Solana. President Hu Jintao of the People's Republic of China met with the visiting EU leaders.

2. Chinese Minister of Foreign Affairs Li Zhaoxing, Minister in charge of the State Development and Reform Commission Ma Kai, Minister of Science and Technology Xu Guanhua, Vice Minister of Commerce Wei Jianguo, Italian Minister for Foreign Affairs Franco Frattini and European Commissioner for Trade Pascal Lamy also participated in the summit.

3. Leaders briefed each other on developments in China and the EU and had an in-depth exchange of views on China-EU relations and international and regional issues of common interest, and reached a broad consensus.

4. Leaders viewed the development of China-EU relations and welcomed the progress made since the fifth summit meeting in Copenhagen in September 2002. The two sides agreed that their high-level political dialogues had been fruitful and the dialogues and consultations at other levels had also further expanded in intensity and scope and such multi-layered structure of China-EU relations is an indicator of the increasing maturity and growing strategic nature of the partnership.

5. Leaders welcomed the signing of the GALILEO Satellite Navigation Co-operation Agreement and the initialing of the Memorandum of Understanding on Approved Destination Status. Leaders considered both to be significant milestones in their expanding bilateral relations and looked forward to their early implementation. The agreement on GALILEO opens the way to the participation of China in this strategic program and the Memorandum of Understanding on Approved Destination Status, including the Joint Declarations concerning Denmark, the United Kingdom and Ireland, opens the way to facilitating Chinese group tourism in the EU.

6. Underlining the success of the existing dialogue on regulation for industrial products, leaders also welcomed the newly established dialogue on industrial policy that aims at ensuring a business-friendly level playing field for industrial operators and at contributing to smooth and sustainable trade relations between China and the EU. The dialogue will encourage contributions from both Chinese and European companies.

7. Leaders welcomed the recent issuing of policy papers on China-EU relations by both Sides. The two policy papers recognize the satisfaction of both sides with dynamic progress of their relationship, identify their respective policy objectives and propose new initiatives in many areas. Leaders believe that the two policy papers, which set the agenda for the future direction of China-EU relations, will provide considerable additional momentum to the relationship. A considerable number of common priorities were identified including further strengthening the exchange of high-level visits and political dialogue, reinforcing cooperation on economic and trade and major international and regional issues, and increasing cooperation at the multilateral level. They also noted the draft European Security Strategy Paper,in which China features as one of the key partners for the EU's strategic security relationships.

8. Leaders reaffirmed China and the EU's commitment to promoting peace, security and sustainable development throughout the world, and stood for a strengthened UN role in this regard.

Leaders expressed concern about the destabilizing effect of regional conflicts. They reaffirmed their active support for the peace process in the Middle East and stressed the need for Iraq's early resumption of sovereignty and reconstruction. Leaders exchanged views about the political situation in Myanmar. 9. China and the EU attach high importance to multilateral non-proliferation, arms control and disarmament and leaders emphasizedthe need for bilateral dialogue on these issues. Both sides expressed, in particular, their support for efforts to promote non-proliferation of WMD in the Korean Peninsula. In this context, the EU side welcomed China's important role in the Six-Party Beijing Talks on DPRK nuclear issue, which was held in August 2003, and fully supports China and all parties involved in their efforts to facilitate a peaceful solution to the issue. The EU stressed its readiness to contribute to this process. Both sides also stressed their support to the International Atomic Energy Agency Safeguards.

10. The EU side reaffirmed that it continues to adhere 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 settlement of the Taiwan question in accordance with the basic principle of "peaceful reunification and one country, two systems".

11. The two sides welcomed the achievements of their human rights dialogue and agreed to continue their ongoing dialogue on human rights on the basis of equality and mutual respect and reconfirmed their commitment to work towards achieving more meaningful and positive results on the ground. They also underlined their respect for international human rights standards provided for in relevant international human rights instruments and to cooperate with UN human rights mechanisms. They also noted the importance of the International Criminal Court in the global fight against genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity. Furthermore, leaders confirmed their commitment to further enhancecooperation in the field of human rights.

12. The two sides reiterated their commitment to the fight against terrorism in all forms, and agreed that this is an issue of common concern, requiring coordination and cooperation both bilaterally and multilaterally, while stressing the need to comply with the basic principles governing international relations and safeguarding human rights. In this context, they referred to the recent successful ASEM Seminar on Anti-Terrorism held on 22-23 September 2003 in Beijing. Leaders stressed the key role of the United Nations with respect to counter-terrorism, and the importance of universal implementation of the international counter-terrorism conventions and relevant UN Security Council resolutions.

13. Following their discussions at the ASEM Summit in Copenhagen in September 2002 on the "Dialogue of Cultures and Civilizations" from Asia and Europe, leaders welcomed the ASEM ministerial meeting on this subject to be hosted by China in December 2003.

14. Leaders reaffirmed their commitment to environmental protection and endeavored to expand the dialogue. They acknowledged the progress which had been achieved since the last Summit. Both sides stressed the importance of further follow-up onthe World Summit on Sustainable Development and of enhancing cooperation in the context of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and its Kyoto Protocol. They expressed the hope for strengthening cooperation in the protectionof ecological environment in the course of the development of China's western region, and reaffirmed their support for the China-EU environmental ministers' dialogue mechanism.

15. Leaders emphasized the need to enhance cooperation in facing trans-national challenges in the field of Justice and Home Affairs. They acknowledged the importance of China-EU operational cooperation to combat illegal migration and trafficking in human beings. Leaders took note of the progress made in this field, in particular the positive result of the Fourth Round of China-EU High Level Consultations on the fight against illegal migration and trafficking in human beings held in Beijing on 28 October 2003,and reiterated their commitment to deepen this cooperation and make it more results-oriented. The EU side stressed the need of anearly launch of exploratory discussions on a future China-EU readmission agreement.

16. On the China-EU cooperation program they welcomed the progress being made in several areas, notably with regard to China's reform process. The EU side expressed its wish to see more rapid progress in other areas of the program, particularly those concerning cooperation on combating illegal migration and support for NGOs. With timely communication, the Chinese side encourages the EU side to establish closer cooperation with relevant Chinese ministries in an effort to enhance efficiency.

17. Leaders welcomed the continued growth of China-EU trade and agreed that its further expansion should take place in a balanced and mutually beneficial manner. The two sides reiterated their willingness to address in a positive spirit bilateral trade problems through increased exchange of views and consultation and welcomed in this context the contribution of enhanced bilateral sectoral dialogues.

18. The two sides stressed the importance of foreign direct investment and the need for further increase of investment flows in both directions.

19. Leaders shared their regret that the WTO ministerial meeting in Cancun had not produced a successful outcome. They reaffirmed their commitment to a strong rules-based and equitable multilateral trading system and to a successful conclusion of the multilateral trade negotiations launched in Doha. They agreed to pursue and deepen the bilateral dialogue on WTO issues.

20. The two sides stressed the importance of full and timely implementation of WTO obligations, which serves the common interests of China, the EU and all their WTO partners. The EU side reaffirmed its will to continue and intensify its efforts to support China, both through cooperation programs and through dialogue in key areas.

21. Leaders noted the need to promote smooth adjustment to imbalances in global trade and capital flows.

22. Leaders welcomed the recent progress achieved on several sectoral agreements and expressed particular satisfaction with the China-EU maritime transport agreement which had been signed in December 2002 and has now been ratified by the Chinese side and endorsed by the European Parliament in its opinion.

23. The two sides expressed their satisfaction with progress in China-EU scientific and technological cooperation and its expansion under the EU's Sixth Framework Program on research and technological development (2002-2006). They especially welcomed the new initiatives launched to fight against SARS and other infectious diseases.

24. Both sides hoped that the start-up of negotiations on an agreement between the Government of the People's Republic of China and the European Atomic Energy Community (Euratom) on cooperation in peaceful uses of nuclear energy would soon make progress. They further welcomed the ongoing negotiations for the establishment ofthe ITER organization (International fusion energy organization) between China, EU and the other international partners.

25. Both sides expressed their hope for an early conclusion of a customs cooperation agreement, and looked forward to starting negotiations very soon, with the common aim of concluding the agreement in the first half of 2004. They agreed that such an agreement should cover mutual administrative assistance on customsmatters, particularly in the field of combat against commercial frauds, a major concern for both sides.

26. The EU side emphasized the need to develop a new framework for China-EU civil aviation relations in order to take account of recent legal development. Both sides looked forward to widening and deepening their relations and cooperation.

27. Leaders stressed the importance of strengthening and expanding sectoral dialogues on a wide range of other issues. Existing dialogues cover key sectors such as energy, the environment, regulatory and industrial policy, the information society and exchanges on the "Digital Olympics". Increasing interest in this type of cooperation has led to plans for new dialogues on competition, intellectual property rights, macro-economic questions, health, employment and education. Both sides underlined the mutual benefits of such exchanges between their experts.

28. Leaders expressed their satisfaction with the positive outcome of this Sixth Summit meeting. They stressed their resolve to further expand and deepen China-EU relations, guided by the twopolicy papers, which promote the development of an overall strategic partnership between China and the EU.

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