France takes EU helm, boosts Asia ties

With the 7th Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM 7) around the corner, Herve Ladsous, the French ambassador to China, shared his views with China Daily on his nation's role in the European Union (EU), cooperation and opportunities between the EU and Asia, and China's pivotal role.

During the current half year that France holds the rotating EU presidency, efforts will include frequent high-level visits and a large number of meetings, particularly in Asian countries, with summits scheduled in India, South Korea, Pacific islands and others.

The rotating presidency

"I'm very honored to work for the EU in Beijing, as are French ambassadors in other countries. The representative role is reflected in hosting, promoting and coordinating the work and projects of the European Union in China," Ladsous said.

The presidency of the Council of the European Union rotates between EU member states every six months. France took over the presidency after Slovenia and preceding the Czech Republic.

"Based on continuing the work of the prior president, France decided to concentrate on four aspects - energy and climate, immigration, agriculture and defense," Ladsous said.

The presidency is responsible for the work of the council, the political decision-making center of all members. The council exercises legislative power and usually makes decisions with the European Parliament to ensure policy coordination among member states, especially in the economy, law enforcement and justice.

The council of the EU determines and implements common foreign and security policies based on guidelines established by the council.

In addition, within the framework of the EU's common foreign and security policies, the presidency is the foreign representative of the EU, along with the participation of Javier Solana, high representative.

Cooperation opportunities

"Ties between the EU and Asia have become closer and there are various forms," the French ambassador noted.

In the field of industry and commerce, the EU's cooperation with China is reflected in close business relations between the EU and Asia, he said.

Today, the EU is China's largest trading partner. Trade turnover reached $392.6 billion in 2007. In turn, as EU's second-largest trading partner, China is the most important market for European exporters, which also have broad room for development in the Chinese market.

One sector is the European aerospace industry whose leading-edge companies have cooperated with Chinese partners on a large scale.

After construction of its Toulouse and Hamburg facilities, Airbus established its A320 final assembly line in Tianjin, while Eurocopter is cooperating with Chinese enterprises to produce one of the world's most advanced helicopters.

In the field of politics, the relationship between the EU and China has continued to deepen in recent years. As France holds the rotating presidency, EU-China relations will be top priority in Asian affairs.

"In this sense, the 11th China-EU Summit to be held in Lyon, France, on December 1 will be an important moment for establishing the all-round strategic partnership between the EU and China," Ladsous said.

"The two sides will begin a new decade for political exchange and launch new cooperation projects that are more promising for both parties, especially in environmental protection and prevention of climate change, as well as EU-China judicial cooperation that includes establishment of EU-China Law School this fall," he added.

The ASEM 7 summit to be held in Beijing today and tomorrow will also illustrate the wide-ranging and high-quality partnership between Europe and Asia. Forty-three countries from Europe and Asia will have the opportunity to discuss global challenges such as social cohesion and sustainable development as well as the consequences of climate change.

"The EU's external actions are not limited to economic and trade cooperation and exchanges, but also extend to major issues in common security and defense," the ambassador said.

For example, the EU-Central Asia Forum on September 18 in Paris discussed nuclear non-proliferation, combating illicit trade and natural resource and water management.

In addition, tens of thousands of Europeans and Asians have met each other in the French League, the British Council, the Confucius Institute, the Goethe Institute or the Cervantes Institute, all organized for cultural exchange.

The Singapore-based Asia Foundation and the European Commission are promoting exchanges in higher education as the commission prepares to launch the $33.8 million Erasmus Mundus scholarships in China this year.

Through a series of forums, Europeans and Asians are able to exchange views on varied subjects at all levels.

China's role

The EU and China have made joint efforts in a number of areas that will have significant impact on all Asian partners, especially in economic development and the prevention of climate change.

China has the ability to play a leading role in climate change, the ambassador said, as it takes responsibility within its borders and the wider world for implementing projects.

"In the area of development, I would like to reiterate that the EU member states provide the greatest financial and technical support to China," Ladsous said.

Since 2002, the EU has invested 181 million in projects with China. It will add an investment of 128 million before 2010.

"The EU is willing to make contributions to the successful implementation of development policies of the Chinese government, and we hope China can work together with us to coordinate our development aid policy on other countries, particularly in Asia and Pacific region," he noted.

"The EU is glad about the high quality and a wide range of cooperation on climate change projects with China," he said.

All EU member states and all Asian countries attending the Asia-Europe Meeting this year will update the adopted Declaration on Sustainable Development at the meeting, the ambassador said.

(China Daily 10/24/2008 page39)