Brussels, on June12th, 2007, China'sMinister of CommerceBo Xilai, EuropeanCommissioner forExternal Relations andNeighbourhood Policy,Benita Ferrero Waldner,and European trade commissioner, Peter Mandelson, co-chairedthe meeting. The two parties exchanged views and negotiatedhonestly, broadly and deeply. 12 consensuses were gained inthe meeting on perfecting talks of Sino-EU trade and economiccooperation agreement singed in 1985, China's market economystatus, textile agreement, steel trade and IPR protection.
It was the center topic for the mixed committee ofperfecting Sino-EU trade and economic agreement talks of1985. Minister Bo expressed that EU was the biggest tradingpartner, the largest technique import source, as welt as thefourth biggest direct investor of China. Perfecting the mentionedagreement was the important target made by China and EU'sleaders during the ninth session and the talks was successfullylaunched though 12 turns of talks with reached consensus. Itwas significant for long-term plan on Sino-EU cooperation, aswell as for creating stable and foreseeable legal basement. Mr.Mandelson expressed that EU was encouraged and was withfull confidence on continue to developing Sino-EU trade andeconomic relations.
About trade imbalance, EU's great concern, Minister Bo saidthat the trade between the two parties was generally balanced.Although EU had trade deficit in good trade, it had predominanceon service trade and investment benefit gained from China, asa result the trade benefit was balanced. China appealed EU toundertake positive measures on releasing Chian's export restricton high-tech product and high-technology. The two partiesagreed to start work of high-tech trade work group underthe committee soon, so as to convenient bilateral high-techtrade. They also agreed to set up the dialogue mechanism onexpanding EU's export to China and improving trade balance.
As for the textile trade, the EU and China have agreed toliberalize their bilateral textile trade in 2008. The two partieshighly appraised MOU on Sino-EU textile trade signed in 2005and believed that it was the achievement gained through positiveand friendly talks setting on thecomplete strategic cooperativerelationship. The two partiesadhere faithfully to the MOUso as to realize liberalizationin bilateral textile trade, keepdialogue and cooperation insuch field, and maintain stableand healthy development. Theconsensus was coordinated with the willing and benefit of thetwo parties, and benefit for deepening further cooperation ontextile production and trade field.
Mr. Mandelson indicated: \"We were both cognizant ofthe-if I can put it this way-re-entry problems of the returnto normal trade, and we agreed that we wanted to avoid anydestabilization of the market\". \"For our part our automaticlicensing system will continue through 2008 so we can continueto monitor market developments and discuss jointly withChinese authorities any actions that we need to take to ensurea smooth transition from the textiles agreement to normaltrading,\" he added.
As for China's steel export, Minister Bo said that Chinadid not intend to pursue great export volume of steel, butattached importance on stabilizing trading environment. Chinamade positive effort on controlling the export of high energyconsuming and resource product. Through deep talks, the twoparties agreed to hold the second informal dialogue centeringon new development in such field. The consensus was aneffective way for guaranteeing normal and orderly steel tradedevelopment between China and EU, as well as avoiding tradefriction that might be caused.
As for poultry meat export, EU confirmed to put forwardthe suggestion on allowing China to export cooked poultrymeat, and resume the trade recently. It was the first time ofresuming China's poultry meat export to EU since it wasprohibited in 2004 when bird flu broke out in China.
As fro market economy status, Minister Bo said that themarket economic pattern was diversified and there was no fixedmode and rigid standard. China had gained huge achievementin market economy system development which should berecognized. It was the important power of promotion Sino-EUtrade and economic relations and it coordinated with commonbenefit. Mr. Mandelson said that EU had noticed China's hugeachievement and would represent it in the renewed evaluationreport on China's market economy status. EU promised todevelop such work with a constructivemanner.
The two parties agreed to set up Sino-EU trade and economic cooperationnetwork as soon as possible, so as to createa free information service platform for theenterprises of the two parties on strengtheninginformation exchange and cooperation.
During the meeting, the two partiesdiscussed on country strategy that EU issuedrecently on developing cooperation withChina. According to the strategy, EU wouldprovide grant aid to China from 2007 to 2013which focused on fields such as economy,trade and social development, environmentand exploration of human resource, andadministration and capability construction.