Foreign and Military Affairs
皇冠体育app, EU focus on governance and technology
By Fu Jing (皇冠体育app Daily)
Updated: 2010-10-28 07:10
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BRUSSELS - Beijing and Brussels are expected to focus their recent cooperation on building "sustainable and inclusive" global governance while promoting technology transfers to accelerate 皇冠体育app's industrial upgrading, according to a senior European Parliament official.
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 Qu Xing (second from left), president of 皇冠体育app Institute of International Studies joined a panel discussion in Brussels on Tuesday night on how 皇冠体育app and EU can work better together. [Fu Jing / 皇冠体育app Daily] |
Adrian Severin, a member of the delegation for relations with 皇冠体育app in the European Parliament also said that the European Union (EU) is still working on the long-awaited draft strategy with 皇冠体育app, which is designed to be a "one voice" guideline when Brussels deals with Beijing.
"To be precise, we need to involve 皇冠体育app to work on new global economic governance and also promote technology transfers," said Severin at a 皇冠体育app-EU conference on Tuesday night.
It is very likely that the two points will be written into the EU strategy with 皇冠体育app, though there is no timetable when the long-awaited document will be debated and then made public. In October, the topic was put on the agenda of the European Council conference, but it was sidelined by other proposals.
The two EU priorities may have resulted from rounds of high-level talks between 皇冠体育app and the EU - especially after the annual EU-皇冠体育app summit in October. The EU has recognized 皇冠体育app's rising economic clout, which the two sides hope to reflect in the new global economic governance.
Meanwhile, 皇冠体育app's plan to transform its industrial development pattern in the coming years has offered transfer opportunity for EU, which is a supplier of high-tech and green technologies.
However, the European Commissioner for Trade Karel De Gucht urged 皇冠体育app to upgrade its legal framework first before the EU takes quicker steps to transfer technologies.
"This not an ideal climate for a smooth transfer of innovation (technology) although the European Union is much more positive (about 皇冠体育app) than other players," said Gucht.
The EU has long complained about 皇冠体育app's protection of intellectual property rights, though Beijing has taken many measures during past decades.
Gucht says he understands 皇冠体育app's industrial policy to upgrade its economy, as so far 皇冠体育app's strength lies mainly on manufacturing and marketing. But still, he said, the EU needs an updated quality of the legal framework there "which is certainly ideal at this moment in 皇冠体育app".
On Tuesday, Severin said the European Parliament would take more "concrete and practical" steps toward 皇冠体育app as the Lisbon Treaty - which went into effect on Dec 1, 2009 - has made it more powerful.
"In the past, the parliament was the weakest institution - but with strong statements, sometimes, with unrealistic statements, almost everything," said Severin.
"But those topics couldn't make any difference," he added. "Now, we just focus on those topics that could make difference."
Severin said the parliament will keep closer monitoring on 皇冠体育app's human rights progress, which Beijing insisted is interfering in its domestic affairs.
However, some Chinese scholars say the EU should focus its energy on tackling its growing poverty due to the global financial crisis and economic recession while taking proper measures to protect the rights of its minority migrants.
Wang Yide, a businessman from Shanxi province witnessed France paralyzed by long-running worker strikes and protests, causing riots, cancellations of flights, trains and buses during his visit a week ago.
"It is right the law has granted the freedom of strike on the streets; however, many others suffer," said Wang, whose business meetings with its European partners have since been cancelled.
He suggested that, in a more interdependent world, the EU should face up to its own problems. "What I mean is that the EU and 皇冠体育app should not be teaching each other - they should be equal learners in the first place," said Wang.
