Looking to Beijing

“The expansion of China should be seen not as a spectre, but as a positive result of globalization” that may bring “significant advantages for Europe”, says PETER MANDELSON , EU Trade Commissioner, giving his very personal ‘take’ on the relations between the EU and the great country of the Far East. Brussels’ attention to Beijing is growing day by day: the last confirmation came on Tuesday 24 October, when the Executive published a “Communication” that defines an “ambitious programme of work for relations between the EU and China”. DIALOGUE AND RECIPROCITY. Presenting the document with the title “Global Europe”, Mandelson explained: “Thanks to China, we’ll have more goods at cheap prices in our shops”, “more competitive European societies and bigger markets for European exporters”. But the Commissioner then warned: “China must however respect the obligations it entered into when it joined the World Trade Organization and practice fair competition”. The strategy proposed by the EU “is a response to the emergence of China as a world economic and political power”. Europe’s External Relations Commissioner, BENITA FERRERO-WALDNER , intervened at this point: “The success of this partnership represents a momentous challenge for the EU. To tackle Europe’s main problems, such as climate change, economic growth, migration and security, we must exploit to the full the potential offered by a dynamic relation with China”. Ferrero-Waldner specified, however, that “the commitment to dialogue and reciprocity” does not exclude human rights, which “remain a priority for the EU”. FIRST THE ECONOMY, THEN POLITICS. The general impression is that the Commission has particularly close at heart solid and profitable economic relations with the giant of the Far East. These economic relations are perhaps considered a point of departure for “support to China’s transition to a more open and pluralist society”. So the EU has now come up with an approach that puts firmly on the agenda such questions as “sustainable development, including cooperation on energy questions and climate change; trade and economic relations; cooperation in the scientific and technological field; migrations; the promotion of security in East Asia and wider cooperation in the field of non-proliferation”. The two Commissioners both have visits to Beijing planned for the near future. The first, in November, will be that of Mandelson; Ferrero-Waldner for her part explains: “We must unite our forces to find together a solution to current world problems. The Commission’s Communication is a point of departure for a framework accord between the EU and China at the beginning of next year”. ADVANTAGES FOR EVERYONE. Peter Mandelson then returned to the economic analysis of bilateral relations: “From 1990 to the present day, access to the European market has helped to rescue 180 million Chinese from poverty”. At the same time, “an economically strong China cannot but be in Europe’s interest. Opening up China brings advantages for both sides”. The experts of the Commission who have worked to define this “strategy” explain that “the European Union and China represent together a quarter of the world’s population. China is the fourth leading economic power in the world, and stands in third place among exporting nations”. Her growth “marks the beginning of a new and challenging phase in its economic and social reform”. SCIENCE, A SPECIAL YEAR. In actual fact a permanent form of partnership was already established in 2003 between the 25 and China. It was aimed not only at producing mutual economic advantages, but also at tackling geopolitical and environmental challenges. The latest initiative of the Executive follows up the intentions expressed at the EU-China summit held in Helsinki on 9 September, and is considered a stage “for a global accord of cooperation” between the two world players. Other recent proposals should be pointed out in this process. In the spring this year, EU Commissioner VIVIANE REDING launched “Orient”, the European-Chinese network of high-speed connection, “a project that will facilitate communication and collaboration between 45 million European and Chinese researchers”. Access to applications such as telemedicine, electronic libraries and on-line learning “will help the public at large and the scientific community to create strong cultural links”. In practice Orient envisages the realization of a terrestrial link that – thanks to huge financial investments – will traverse Siberia, connecting the European Geant2 network with the Chinese Cernet and Cstnet networks. Another joint initiative, the “China-EU Year of Science and Technology”, was inaugurated on 11 October. It plans a series of workshops, forums and exhibitions regarding these sectors.