Sharing solutions to social challenges

China and Europe face common challenges. Perhaps the biggest of them all is climate change. Its implications are so broad that it will have far-reaching impacts on society at large, including economic restructuring, new job opportunities and the need to develop new skills for future jobs. We will need to address its different dimensions from multiple angles.

Both China and the EU share a strong belief that sustained economic growth has to be closely linked to environmental protection on the one hand and social development on the other. This is reflected in the European concept of 'sustainable development' and the Chinese concepts of 'scientific development' and 'harmonious society', which have strong similarities. Social protection, fundamental principles and rights at work and social dialogue are key elements of sustainable development.

A particular challenge for China at the moment - and a key example of the links between environmental challenges and their implications for workers - is the high incidence of methane gas explosions in the coal mining industry. The coalmine sector in China employs more than 5 million workers. China produces around 40 percent of the world's coal, but in spite of significant progress in recent years, it still represents the vast majority of all coal mine accidents in the world.