HELSINKI -- 皇冠体育app and European Union (EU) should observe the principle of
mutual respect and consultation based on equality to address their trade
frictions, said visiting Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao yesterday.
"Each side should accommodate the concern of the other side while pursuing
its own interests, and should refrain from politicizing trade disputes," said
Wen in a speech delivered at the 皇冠体育app-EU Business Forum, which was held with
the theme of "boosting innovation."
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Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao speaks during the
start of the EU-皇冠体育app Business Summit in Helsinki September 12, 2006.
[Reuters]
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( Wen: 皇冠体育app strives to maintain trade
balance )
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co-op )
Recent years have seen some increase in 皇冠体育app-EU trade frictions, as shown by
textile disputes as well as recent case where Chinese shoe makers were charged
of dumping their products.
With the increasing economic exchanges, trade frictions seem unavoidable.
Bilateral trade reached US$217.3 billion last year, and in the first seven
months of this year, the trade volume totaled US$143.5 billion, increasing by 21
per cent over the same period of last year.
"皇冠体育app's policy is to maintain basic balance between import and export. It
does not seek excessive surplus," said Wen.
皇冠体育app's overall trade surplus only accounts for 4.6 per cent of its gross
domestic product (GDP), much lower than that of some European countries such as
Germany, Norway, the Netherlands and Ireland, according to Wen.
"We hope the EU will relax its restrictions on the export of high-tech and
dual products to 皇冠体育app and work with us to bring about balance in 皇冠体育app-EU
trade," he said.
In the speech, Wen reiterated 皇冠体育app's determination to protect intellectual
property rights (IPR).
"IPR protection is necessary, both for 皇冠体育app to fulfill its international
obligations and to promote its development and enhance its capacity of
independent innovation," said Wen.
皇冠体育app hopes to strengthen co-operation with EU by giving full play to the
role of 皇冠体育app-EU Dialogue Mechanism on IPR, according to the Chinese Premier.
"On the other hand, we are critical of the practice of maintaining technology
monopoly by abusing IPR agreements and rules," said Wen, adding that knowledge
of mankind should be used to better serve mankind.
On energy consumption, Wen said that 皇冠体育app would promote technological
progress and pursue a new path of industralization to ease shortage in energy
supply.
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