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Smoothing out Sino-EU ties

By Xing Hua (China Daily)
Updated: 2010-09-01 12:21

Better understanding and mutual benefit can help settle disputes and consolidate strategic common ground

The ongoing week-long strategic dialogue between China and the European Union (EU), respectively headed by State Councilor Dai Bingguo and High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Catherine Ashton, is a fresh move taken by both sides to push forward bilateral ties.

Ashton's visit, prior to a UN Summit on development in September, the eighth Asia-Europe Meeting and China-Europe Summit in October, a G20 Summit in November and a UN climate change conference at the end of this year, is expected to help coordinate stances and cooperation between China and the European bloc on a wide range of important international issues.

Over the past 35 years since their diplomatic ties were established, China and the EU have made fruitful progress in developing ties with each other, with both regarding the other as a focus of their diplomacy. Various levels of dialogue and consultation mechanisms have been established to deepen mutual understanding and trust. In 2003, China and the EU decided to elevate bilateral ties to a full and strategic cooperative partnership. Remarkable progress has also been achieved in the economic and trade scope, with bilateral trade volume at the end of 2009 increasing a hundredfold from that of 1975. Currently, the EU remains China's largest trading partner, exporting market and source of technological imports. China remains the bloc's second-largest trading partner and has been the largest source of imports for many consecutive years. China became the third-largest exporting market of the EU in 2009.

The expansion of economic and trade cooperation has forcefully bolstered and pushed forward bilateral ties. As the world's largest developing nation with rising economic and global clout and the world's largest group of developed nations, unblocked communications and cooperation between China and the EU have undoubtedly played an important role in promoting world stability and development. The mushrooming economic, trade and political ties, aided by their widening cooperation in scientific and technological areas and frequent people-to-people exchanges, make the Sino-EU relationship one of the most important and influential bilateral relationships in the world.

However, Sino-EU relations have also encountered some setbacks in the context of the changing world power configuration, which has been the result of profound changes in the global situation since the start of this century, especially the rise of such emerging countries as China. Some in Europe believe China's fast-paced economic development has upset the long-established position of China and the EU in the world and believe competition other than beneficial cooperation has dominated bilateral ties. It is also believed that China has been the only beneficiary of booming Sino-EU relations and that the EU should try to gain equal treatment in bilateral exchanges. Preoccupied with such a mentality, the EU has taken trade protectionist measures against China in the past years, adding conflict and friction to the otherwise well-developed ties.

In addition to pressures from China's economic ascent, the self-centered view in Europe has also caused the bloc to underestimate the political and social progress that China has achieved since its reform and opening-up. That approach has fueled dissatisfaction and disappointment among EU members toward the Asian nation's development, regarded as out of track with what the EU has tried to guide. As a result, negative factors in EU opinions toward China have risen and misunderstanding and prejudice toward its domestic and foreign policies have increased.

Under this political environment, the EU and some of its members have contravened the much-needed principle of mutual respect in dealings with China and sent bilateral political ties into a low level, as indicated by the postponing of a scheduled summit meeting between the two sides at the end of 2008.

The hard work made by both sides to resume the summit, which facilitated high-level exchanges and dialogue, managed to bring the ties back onto the track of normal development. China and EU efforts to remove obstacles also indicate that Sino-EU relations enjoy a solid foundation and the two sides' strong wish to consolidate achieved results in bilateral ties. At a time when changing international situations have presented some difficulties for Sino-EU relations, such a "look forward" attitude has injected realistic and fresh vitality into the ties.

Both China and the EU undertake important responsibilities in extricating the world from poverty, promoting reform of the international financial system and handling regional hot spot issues. They also share common traits in promoting the implementation of the UN millennium development plan and tackling climate change. Same or similar interests and stances between the two on a wide range of international and regional issues have contributed much to the deepening of mutual consultation and cooperation in global affairs.

Under the guideline of the Treaty of Lisbon, the EU has made new steps forward and faced new tests as well. Similarly, China's modernization is entering a crucial stage. These not only need China and the EU to deepen mutual understanding and support, but also offer them broader prospects for bilateral ties.

China and the EU should sum up their experiences accumulated over the past 35 years and try to add some new vitality into bilateral ties. They should look at each other in a more open and tolerant manner on the basis of mutual respect and conduct dialogues in a variety of fields.

The establishment of more channels for mutual cooperation and communication will increase their common ground and enhance mutual understanding and trust, which will help reduce obstacles in bilateral exchanges and resolve emerging disputes in a more appropriate manner.

The author is a researcher with the China Institute of International Studies.