Sound bites

Jo Leinen, senior German Socialist member of the European Parliament and chair of the Delegation for Relations with the People's Republic of China:

"The 40th anniversary of EU-Sino relations is a good opportunity to take stock on the relationship between these two economic giants. We will certainly need to address some difficult issues, such as market access to China for European companies, but we are going to have a big chance in 2015 for increased cooperation between the two sides."

Jiang Xiaoyan, spokeswoman for the Mission of the People's Republic of China to the European Union:

"While economic growth is expected to slow down in 2015, the outlook for China in the coming year is optimistic. Reasons for this optimism include the booming services sector, which is growing at a rate of 10 percent; increasing economic flexibility in government policies; and the expanding urbanization drive. The government will also redouble its efforts to move toward a law-based economy."

Bernard Dewitt, chairman of the Belgian-Chinese Chamber of Commerce:

"With the 40th anniversary of EU-Sino relations in 2015, it is going to be a particularly busy year for EU-China relations, so this roundtable debate offers a good opportunity to reflect on what has been achieved in the past year and where we might be headed in the coming 12 months."

Istvan Ujhelyi, Hungarian member of the European Parliament and vice-chair of the European Parliament's Committee on Transport and Tourism:

"Long-term planning is the secret of China's economic success and this is something we in Europe, with our more short-term approach to things, can learn from. China is going to be an even bigger player in the future, but the EU currently remains locked in crisis in what is an ever-changing world."

Andre Loesekrug-Pietri, founding chairman of A Capital, the first private equity group focused on Chinese outbound investments:

"An event such as this kind organized by China Daily shows that China really is changing. The relationship between the EU and China faces serious problems and, in some areas such as market access and the environment, there is a way to go. But I remain very optimistic for the future."

Peter Guilford, executive chairman of GPlus Europe, a political consulting firm:

"The EU-China investment agreement is good for both sides and could reduce trade frictions. It is regarded by the EU as a virility test for China's commitment to opening its markets. Negotiations, though, have become bogged down and, as a former EU trade negotiator, I know this can be frustrating but this need not be the cause of any particular concern."

Pascal Kerneis, managing director of European Services Forum, a network of representatives from the service sector:

"What we certainly need is more market access for European companies in China, particularly in banking and telecommunications. The perception now is that such European companies are not welcome in China and that it is very difficult to do business over there. I would also welcome more Chinese investment in Europe. Hopefully, the investment agreement will address this."

Liu Guojin, East Asia business manager of the Antwerp Port Authority:

"Chinese reforms in the past have been more economy-based but, due to the new political leadership in Beijing, are now more about social equality and good governance. Everyone knows the gap between rich and poor in China is bigger than many other places but the new government is trying hard to tackle this."

Glyn Ford, executive director of Polint and a member of the National Policy Forum of the British Labour Party:

"The installation of a new European Commission is an opportunity to reset the agenda for relations between the EU and China.

"But, with friends of China in Brussels being an endangered species, we need to change the mindset in the new commission so that the EU has a single China policy rather than two or three separate ones."

Shada Islam, director of policy at Friends of Europe, a think tank in Brussels:

"We live in a very dangerous world, as the Paris attacks showed, and desperately need a new narrative. China has a huge and crucial role to play in global governance but appears not to be a priority for the new commission or the EU, which does not appear willing to respond to any new initiative coming out of China. That is a great pity."

Karel Lannoo, chief executive of the Center for European Policy Studies, a think tank in Brussels:

"In Europe, there are currently different national policies when dealing with Beijing. For example, the document outlining the new bilateral agreement between the UK and China mentions the EU just twice. What is needed going forward is a single strategy toward China, one which is directed from Brussels and not the member states."

David Laurier, president and CEO of AppliTek NV, an international enterprise active in research and development:

"We need a single policy for China. At present, the EU and Europe is effectively a club of competing interests between the different member states. These countries should be cooperating, rather than competing, with each other."

Fabrizio Sestini, scientific officer of DG Connect at the European Commission:

"China and the EU face many common challenges, such as sustainability in the economy and the financial markets, and I totally agree that a new narrative is needed. It should, however, be one based on cooperation and not competition."

Frank Gotzen, professor of law and founder of the Center for Intellectual Property Rights at the University of Leuven:

"China has undoubtedly become an economic giant. I compare it to Japan in the 1980s, which back then could be synonymous for poor product quality. That has changed dramatically and the same is now happening in China. That makes me very optimistic about future EU-China relations."

(China Daily European Weekly 01/16/2015 page16)