Barroso: to solve bilateral problems in a constructive manner (Xinhua) Updated: 2005-07-16 11:02
EU Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso said Friday that the EU and
China should solve bilateral problems in a "constructive and cooperative"
manner.
In terms of recognizing China's full market economy status, Barroso told a
press conference that he has told Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao and Minister of
Commerce Bo Xilai that "it depends on some technical issues and some work has to
be done on both sides before we can grant that status to China".
He said the EU is not at all making a negative assessment of the economic
situation in China. On the contrary, EU recognizes the great achievement of the
Chinese economy over the past years, and also its great successes in terms of
opening and reforming the economy.
"We believe that in a spirit of good cooperation we can solve those
problems," said Barroso. But with regard to the specific time, he said "I can
not give you a precise answer".
On the issue of the EU's arms embargo on China, Barroso explained some
obstacles to the lifting of the embargo. This decision needs unanimity, but the
25 member states of the EU have not yet reached a consensus. It also needs
support from the European Parliament, the parliaments of member states and the
European public.
Barroso said that he didn't like to make predictions on time. "But what I can
tell you is that we are keeping that objective and it is still on the agenda of
the European Union," he said.
The EU is now China's largest trading partner, with a bilateral trade volume
of 177.28 billion US dollars, which is 74 times the trade volume in 1975 when
the two sides established diplomatic relations.
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