China
|
EU relations with China were established in 1975 and are governed by the 1985 EU-China Trade and Cooperation Agreement. In 2007, to reflect the depth and breadth of today’s strategic partnership, negotiations began to upgrade this to a Partnership and Cooperation Agreement. Today, the EU is China’s largest trade partner, with China being the EU’s second largest partner. Apart from regular political, trade and economic dialogue meetings, there are over 24 sectoral dialogues and agreements ranging from environmental protection to industrial policy to education and culture.
The main objectives of EU policy towards China are to:
- Broaden and deepen dialogue with China, both bilaterally and on the world stage (e.g. working together on global challenges such as climate change,
- Support China’s transition to an open society based upon the rule of law and respect for human rights,
- Encourage the ongoing integration of China into the world economy and trading system, and support the process of economic and social reforms,
- Raise the EU’s profile in China, to aid mutual understanding.
|
These objectives are reflected in EU assistance to China.
On the 30th of January 2009 a meeting took place in Brussels between the European Commission and the Chinese government.
|
