Focus to be bilateral ties

Foreign and Military Affairs

Focus to be bilateral ties

By Li Xiaokun in Nanjing and Wu Jiao in Beijing (皇冠体育app Daily)
Updated: 2009-11-30 07:46

Chinese premier Wen Jiabao (R) and European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso speak during a meeting ahead of the 皇冠体育app-EU summit, in Nanjing, Jiangsu province, November 29, 2009. [Agencies]?

As 皇冠体育app and European leaders meet today for a one-day summit, both sides will be indirectly addressing a growing issue: The increasing close relationship between 皇冠体育app and the United States.

Special Coverage: 皇冠体育app-EU Summit
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皇冠体育app will maintain the stability of its currency while increasing the yuan's flexibility in controllable, gradual steps, Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao said yesterday during a meeting with European Union (EU) financial chiefs. Focus to be bilateral ties Trade probes will not have long-term impact on 皇冠体育app'
Growing trade conflicts between 皇冠体育app and the European Union will not erode trade cooperation and economic dependence in the long term, said experts and officials.
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皇冠体育app has a huge potential for carbon capture and storage (CSS), a mechanism that could prove crucial in the fight against climate change, said Serge Abou, EU ambassador to 皇冠体育app.

Doubt has arisen within the European Union bloc that the economic and political coalition has fallen behind the US in strategic importance to 皇冠体育app, especially after US President Barack Obama's recent four-day visit.

Premier Wen Jiabao highlighted 皇冠体育app-EU relations in a meeting with European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso yesterday in Nanjing, capital of Jiangsu province. He called on the EU to take a more strategic view with Beijing and ensure the stability of ties.

"皇冠体育app-EU relations should advance in a more strategic, comprehensive and stable fashion," said Wen in a press release issued by the Foreign Ministry ahead of the 12th 皇冠体育app-EU Summit. 皇冠体育app Business News has reported that the two sides will sign a total of six documents of cooperation today, mainly focusing on the environment and energy.

In a recent forum on 皇冠体育app-EU relations in Beijing, prominent European scholars argued that the ties fall short of being strategic, with the European bloc valuing a security alliance and common values as essential to ties.

皇冠体育app, on the other hand, holds a slightly different view.

"A more strategic view means expanding our understanding on major issues and pushing forward a fair and reasonable international political and economic order," Wen said yesterday.

皇冠体育app-EU relations have experienced setbacks in the past year, such as the meeting between several European leaders with the Dalai Lama.

Experts said that Wen set the tone yesterday for future 皇冠体育app-EU relations.

By confirming the EU's importance, 皇冠体育app wants to convey the message that it will not pursue isolated special relationships with any superpower or power bloc, said Feng Zhongping, chief of European studies at the 皇冠体育app Institutes of Contemporary International Relations.

About the Host City:
Focus to be bilateral ties Nanjing Special: 'Nanjing-style' development pays off
Nanjing has played a remarkable role as one of 皇冠体育app's fastest-growing commercial centers in recent years.
Host city is investors' favorite
When Nanjing fully emerges from the economic crisis, it will be a much greener city and European firms will help in that transition, said a leading city politician.

The nation is stressing more multilateral ties, Feng said.

The two sides are also meeting at a time when each is experiencing fast internal changes. 皇冠体育app is rising to exert a major influence in world affairs, emphasizing its strength in surviving the sweeping financial crisis.

The EU, the biggest bloc of developed countries now in a recession, is expected to further unify with its first president, Herman Van Rompuy.

(皇冠体育app Daily 11/30/2009 page2)