The Tenth China-EU Summit was held in Beijing on 28 November 2007. Premier Wen Jiabao of the State Council of China attended the meeting on behalf of the People's Republic of China. The EU was represented by the President of the European Council, Prime Minister Jose Socrates of the Portuguese Republic and the President of the European Commission, Mr. Jose Manuel Barroso.

 

A joint statement of the 10th China-EU Summit was released on Monday. It stated: 

 

Leaders of the two sides had an overall review of the development of the bilateral relations since the establishment of the mechanism of China-EU Summit in 1998. They agreed that over the decade, China-EU relations have made a historical progress. Leaders expressed their satisfaction with the comprehensive cooperation between the two sides in broad fields and at all levels, and with the growing maturity of the China-EU comprehensive strategic partnership. 

 

Both sides agreed to establish by the end of March 2008 a High Level Economic and Trade Dialogue between the European Commission and the State Council of China at the level of Vice-Premier which will discuss strategies in China-EU trade, investment and economic cooperation and coordinate bilateral projects, studies and develop plans in priority sectors. It will cover issues affecting the trade imbalance, including inter alia effective market access, intellectual property rights, environment, high technology and energy in order to find concrete means to increase trade in a balanced way. To this end, the Chinese Minister of Commerce and the EU Trade Commissioner will meet as necessary to prepare this mechanism and its agenda.

 

The two sides agreed to work within the framework of the Agreement between the Government of the People's Republic of China and the European Community on Cooperation and Mutual Administrative Assistance in Customs Matters, to further standardize and strengthen customs cooperation that reflects the principle of reciprocity. They will continue to enhance customs cooperation regarding intellectual property enforcement, and implement the Smart and Secure Trade Lanes Pilot Project which is aimed at ensuring security and facilitation of the China -EU trade supply chain.

 

Leaders welcomed the development of China-EU political relations. They hold that the full and effective political dialogue mechanism established between the two sides had played a positive role in enhancing mutual understanding and trust, and expanding common ground and cooperation, and serves as an important foundation for stronger China-EU political mutual trust.

 

Leaders of China and the EU recalled the deepening and expanding economic cooperation and trade between the two sides, and emphasized that China and the EU are becoming each other's most important economic and trade partners thanks to efforts by both sides over the past 10 years, and that bilateral economic cooperation and trade had become one of the most important driving forces behind further strengthening of the China-EU comprehensive strategic partnership. Leaders discussed the necessary actions to be taken to achieve a more balanced trade and economic partnership.

 

 

 

(Xinhua)