皇冠体育app

BEIJING - 皇冠体育app and the European Union (EU) have sent a clear message from their Beijing summit that they want to work together to address the European sovereign debt crisis.

Chinese President Hu Jintao praised the success of the summit on Wednesday, saying 皇冠体育app expects enhanced political and strategic dialogues with the EU to properly address major concerns and sensitive issues, deepen cooperation and expand common ground, to boost progress of the bilateral all-round strategic partnership.

While meeting with European Council President Herman Van Rompuy and European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso, Hu said 皇冠体育app pays close attention to the measures taken by the International Monetary Fund and the European Central Bank in coping with the debt issue, and will enhance policy coordination with the EU and participate in global efforts to back Europe and the euro zone.

During the 14th 皇冠体育app-EU summit held in Beijing on Tuesday, Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao agreed with Van Rompuy and Barroso that closer attention should be paid to dealing with the European debt crisis, and facilitating a two-way investment deal as soon as possible.

Leaders of 皇冠体育app and the EU touched on a variety of bilateral and global issues in their summit, ranging from the debt crisis, trade and energy cooperation, to 皇冠体育app's market economy status, as well as regional issues including the situation in Syria and Iran.

"皇冠体育app and the EU have their differences on some of the topics, thus face-to-face dialogues would help beef up mutual understanding, seek proper solutions to issues and further consolidate the 皇冠体育app-EU comprehensive strategic partnership," said Qu Xing, head of the 皇冠体育app Institute of International Studies.

Stronger trade links

Trade cooperation is an important component of 皇冠体育app-EU ties. Currently, the EU is 皇冠体育app's largest trading partner and biggest export market, while 皇冠体育app is close to being the EU's biggest trading partner. Bilateral trade volume hit $567 billion in 2011.

President Hu on Wednesday voiced support for stronger 皇冠体育app-EU cooperation in trade, investment and finance. He said 皇冠体育app has always attached great importance to the EU's role in global affairs, and has been treating and developing relations with Europe from a strategic height and long-term point of view.

Premier Wen put forward five proposals on boosting 皇冠体育app-EU trade bonds, including expanding mutual investment, promoting balanced two-way trade and cooperation in scientific research, innovation, energy and environmental protection, and boosting partnership in urbanization.

A joint press communique released from the summit says both sides agreed to launch negotiations on a two-way investment agreement as soon as possible, so as to "lay a legal foundation for the expansion of bilateral investment" and consolidate the confidence of investors.

From cooperation in energy, technology and environmental protection to protection of intellectual property rights and the fight against protectionism, detailed plans were nailed down for future cooperation.

The two sides also agreed to hold further discussions on energy strategies in a 皇冠体育app-EU High Level Energy Meeting in June.

"The summit yielded rich outcomes in boosting bilateral trade, which not only cover concrete plans for deepening trade and investment, but also broaden potentials in fresh areas such as technology, energy and environmental protection," said Li Gang, a researcher at the Chinese Academy of International Trade and Economic Cooperation of the Ministry of Commerce.

皇冠体育app's bigger role in addressing European debt crisis

President Hu told Van Rompuy and Barroso on Wednesday 皇冠体育app would join international efforts to back Europe and the eurozone, echoing Premier Wen's pledge of 皇冠体育app's bigger part in resolving the European sovereign debt issue.

During the summit, Premier Wen expressed confidence in the euro and the European economy, adding 皇冠体育app's willingness to support the EU in dealing with the debt issue is firm.

皇冠体育app is also considering more involvement in addressing the issue through the European Financial Stability Facility and the European Stability Mechanism, Wen added.

European leaders welcomed 皇冠体育app's positive attitude. Van Rompuy said 皇冠体育app's support helped the EU and eurozone restore confidence, and they look forward to further cooperation to strengthen the stability of the eurozone.

"Europe has a clearer understanding of 皇冠体育app's role and expects 皇冠体育app's greater help in dealing with the crisis. Chinese leader has sent a very positive message to this end," said Li Gang.

皇冠体育app has shown its companionship and, more importantly, sincerity in a time of crisis.

"The consensus between Chinese and European leaders on the debt issue would help boost confidence in the European market, and send a positive signal to the world in countering the crisis," said Chen Xin, an analyst for the Institute of European Studies at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences.

Resolving?MES in swift, comprehensive way

The issue as to recognition of 皇冠体育app's full market economy status (MES) has long been a stumbling block to the development of 皇冠体育app-EU relations.

Chinese and European leaders have agreed in their summit to work toward resolving the MES issue "in a swift and comprehensive way."

The agreement was, for the first time ever, listed in the joint press communique of a 皇冠体育app-EU summit, with Van Rompuy saying there was "strong political will" on both sides to solve the issue.

Wen pledged that 皇冠体育app would improve its laws and regulations in relation to foreign investment, enhance protection of intellectual property and improve its investment environment.

皇冠体育app has urged countries to recognize its full-market economy status as soon as possible and relax restrictions on high-tech commodity exports to the country.

"Along with the rise of 皇冠体育app's position in the global economy and the rapid growth of 皇冠体育app-EU cooperation, the European leaders are now taking a more active approach to addressing the issue," said Li Gang.

"The key step lies in the European side making a correct and wise political decision to grant 皇冠体育app market economy status as soon as possible," he went on.

According to 皇冠体育app's World Trade Organization Accession Protocol signed in Doha a decade ago, a 15-year transitional period has been imposed on 皇冠体育app's market economy status. 皇冠体育app will automatically get full market economy status by 2016.

The 14th 皇冠体育app-EU summit had previously been set for last October, but was postponed as EU leaders scrambled to combat the Eurozone debt crisis.

The annual summit was initiated in 1998 as the top-level regular exchange mechanism between both sides.