It's spring in Prague for Sino-EU relations

Premier Wen Jiabao's visit to Prague is important for many reasons, but three of them deserve special attention.

Wen rubbished talks of the US and China forming a "group of two (G2)" with a view to dominating world affairs. He urged China and the European Union (EU) to stand shoulder-to-shoulder against the global economic crisis, and reiterated Beijing's commitment to fighting climate change.

Wen reached the capital of the Czech Republic to attend the 11th China-EU Summit, and hold meetings with European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso, Czech President Vaclav Klaus, and other European leaders. Though trade and economic cooperation was high on his agenda, comprehensive bilateral relations, too, featured significantly during his talks.

China and the EU reaffirmed their faith in multilateralism to handle global affairs. This is where Wen scotched rumors in the Western media and some political and economic pundits' speculation that China and the US could form a G2.

After the summit, Wen said: "Some say world affairs will be managed solely by China and the US (in the future) that view is baseless and wrong. It is impossible for a couple of countries or a group of big powers to resolve all global issues. Multilateralism represents the larger trend and the will of people."

China's foreign policy will always be independent and peaceful, and aimed at mutually beneficial solutions, he said. It has always wanted to develop friendly ties with other countries, and detests hegemony.

The joint press communiqu issued after the summit cleared the issue further: "The two sides reaffirmed their active commitment to peace, stability, security, prosperity and sustainable development in the world, as well as to peaceful resolution of disputes by means of dialogue, effective multilateralism and the UN."

Further confirmation of China's faith in multilateralism came when Wen and the EU leaders reiterated their commitment to implementing the London G20 Summit's conclusions. They said they would never resort to protectionism, and promised to try their best to reach an ambitious, but balanced and comprehensive conclusion to the Doha round of WTO talks as early as possible.

Under the multilateral framework, China-EU ties have transcended the bilateral realm and acquired an international dimension. China and the EU share responsibility in many crucial global issues that can be resolved only through international efforts.

Wen said the continued threat the global economic crisis poses has made it all the more important for the EU and China to join hands to fight it. The two sides have converging interests and agree broadly on how to combat the crisis.

The EU, on its part, praised the measures China has adopted to boost domestic demand and stimulate its economy. It believes China's economic growth will benefit Europe and the world beyond. Hence, it is eager to strengthen its mutually beneficial economic ties with China and participate in its market.

China agreed to send a procurement team to Europe soon and increase its imports from Europe, a move appreciated by the EU. The two sides agreed to promote mutual investments, and strengthen cooperation in small- and medium-sized enterprises, trade facilitation, science and technology, transport and post.

Wen urged the EU leaders to accord China the status of a market economy, a decision vital to further advancing bilateral trade and economic cooperation. He said he hoped the EU would ease its restrictions on exports of hi-tech products to China and create new opportunities for growth. The leaders agreed to intensify dialogue on macroeconomic policies and finance, too, and press for the global financial sector's reform.

The other important commitment that China (and the EU) made was on climate change. Wen said the international community should not falter in its fight against climate change because of the economic crisis. China is ready to work with the EU on the principle of "common but differentiated responsibilities" to achieve positive results at the UN climate conference in Copenhagen in December.

The EU has taken note of China's achievements in saving energy and cutting greenhouse gas emissions, and believes Beijing is walking in the right direction. Barroso sounded an optimistic note, saying the EU and China can make a difference by the time the Copenhagen conference is held because the two sides are ready to work for solutions.

The summit reaffirmed the general framework of China-EU ties, with the joint communiqu declaring: "The two sides restated their firm commitment to pursuing the China-EU comprehensive strategic partnership and their willingness to work together for their mutual development, in a forward-looking manner based on the principles of mutual respect, equality, mutual trust, reciprocity and win-win cooperation."

In order to reach a real comprehensive strategic partnership, China asked the EU lift the arms embargo against it because that would benefit not only the EU, but the whole of Europe.

Wen's visit to Prague can be summed up as successful because it resumed talks between the two sides with lots of promises.

China Daily

(China Daily 05/22/2009 page9)