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EU, China Hope to Reach Maritime Agreement Early
The European Union (EU) and China announced Friday in Brussels the two sides will do best to reach a maritime pact.
In the announcement, Loyola de Palacio, European Commission Vice-President in charge of Transport and Energy, and Huang Zhendong, Chinese Minister for Transport, expressed their intention to promote a far-reaching EU-China maritime agreement as soon as possible.
During a meeting held in Brussels, the two sides underlined the importance of such an agreement which, in particular, will be based on the freedom to provide maritime services and free access to cargoes.
"I think it is an historic moment in our bilateral maritime relations: This agreement will help us to consolidate into a legally binding framework the existing commercial maritime practices and yet develop even further our shipping relations," Loyola de Palacio was quoted as saying by a European Commission statement.
The political decision marks the start of negotiations which will be formally launched on September 13-14, said the commission, the EU's acting arm.
According to the statement, the maritime agreement should cover vital fields in this economic sector, such as accordance of national treatment for EU vessels calling at Chinese ports; formal recognition of the right of establishment for EU maritime companies in China; development and facilitation of door to door transport and the multimodal aspects of modern maritime transport services and logistics; freedom to supply services; commercial presence; free transfer of payments and capital and maritime co- operation.
"This agreement would benefit both sides," said the commissioner. "The recent development of the major Chinese shipping companies is a clear sign that they want to be an important actor in the world market, given that some 90 percent of the world's trade is transported by sea," she said.
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