China, EU ushering in new stage of relationship
www.chinaview.cn
2005-06-11 18:16:53
BEIJING, June 11 (Xinhuanet) -- China and the European
Union
reached consensus on Saturday in Shanghai following 10 hours of talks,
ending their months-long row in textile trade and bringing their
relationship into a new stage.
The Saturday consensus not only helped prevent an
escalation
oftrade row and safeguard the interests of both sides, but also marked
the beginning of a new stage of China-EU relations characterized by
consultation and dialogue.
The consensus on resolving the textile and clothing row
would
provide a sound development environment for both Chinese exporters and
EU importers.
China and the EU agreed to work for a comprehensive
strategic
partnership last year. Such a relationship means the two sides would
develop bilateral ties in multiple areas from a long-term and strategic
point of view.
Such a relationship should be stable and is not to be
disruptedby
certain unfavorable matters, given that it is based on the principles
of equality, mutual benefit, mutual respect and trust.
Today's world is undergoing significant changes with
far-reaching
impact. China and the EU have no confrontation on mattersof fundamental
interests, but share more and more common interestsas they are highly
complementary in economy and also hold similar views on many
international issues.
Consultation instead of confrontation, and dialogue
instead of
unilateral action, as demonstrated in the settlement of the China-EU
textile and clothing trade dispute, reflected the essence of a
"comprehensive strategic partnership" and provided a good mechanism
for
the further development of China-EU relations.
Relations with the EU assume much importance in China's
foreignpolicy, and the Chinese leaders have visited Europe frequently
since the 1990s. China has supported the integration process of the EU
before and after it was expanded to 25 member nations last year, and
has supported the EU to play an even greater role in world affairs.
Meanwhile, the EU has regarded China as a major player in
the world
arena. Leaders of many EU member nations have worked vigorously to push
forward EU-China relations during their visit to the country, and many
of them have expressed their support to recognizing China as a full
market economy and lifting the arms sales ban against China.
As an important part of the China-EU relations, trade
between the
two sides grew more than 74 times in the past 30 years of
fulldiplomatic relations to reach 177.3 billion US dollars last year.
The EU replaced the United States as China's largest
trading
partner last year. EU and China are now increasingly dependent on each
other in terms of their economic growth.
Leaders of both China and the EU have reiterated for many
timesthat
the two sides should expand two-way trade and eliminate obsolete trade
barriers. They have also stressed that they would resolve any disputes
and concerns through friendly consultation and dialogue and prevent any
trade disputes from escalating into atrade war.
The trade of textile and clothing accounts for only a tiny
portion
of the overall two-way trade. It would be in nobody's interests to let
the textile and clothing dispute disrupt the overall China-EU
relations.
Similar trade disputes might emerge in the future as trade
between
the two sides continues to grow. But as long as the two sides can sit
down at the negotiation table, they would find out asolution acceptable
to both and also beneficial to both.
As China maintains its momentum of rapid economic growth,
its
annual imports will keep on increasing and possibly reach one trillion
US dollars by 2020 as against last year's figure of 500 billion
dollars.
China's growing appetite for foreign goods, coupled with
the
upcoming 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing and the 2010 World Expo in
Shanghai, would provide greater opportunities for business people from
the EU and other parts of the world who are in good relations with
China.
A sound and mature relationship with the EU will greatly
help
China's development, and vice versa. Bright prospects and great
potentials lie ahead in China-EU trade as the two sides are ushering in
a new stage for their relationship.