The European Union expects the Sixth EU-China Summit to be held
in Beijing this Thursday will strengthen the maturing partnership
between the two sides, said Klaus Ebermann, head of the Delegation
of the European Commission to China.
"I believe the summit will be fruitful," Ebermann said Monday in
Beijing.
The summit will be the first meeting of leaders from both sides
since China issued its policy paper on EU relations, and the EU
approved its strategy for relations with China. It will also be
their first summit since the new Chinese leadership came to power,
earlier this year.
The EU will be represented by the Italian Prime Minister Silvio
Berlusconi, in his role as President of the European Council,
President of the European Commission Romano Prodi, and the EU's
High Representative for External Affairs Javier Solana.
The Chinese side will be led by Premier Wen
Jiabao. The European leaders will also meet Chinese President
Hu
Jintao.
At the summit, EU and Chinese leaders will exchange views on
current internal developments, with a particular emphasis on EU
integration and enlargement processes, and the implementation of
China's ongoing economic and social reforms.
Both sides will hold discussions on a wide range of topics
including international issues of common concern, human rights,
trade, cooperation in economic and social reform, and transnational
challenges.
This year, the situation in the Korean Peninsula will certainly
be on the agenda, as will developments in Myanmar and the situation
in Iraq, Ebermann said.
Cooperation in the field of science and technology will also be
high on the agenda, with the expected signing of the agreement for
China's participation in Galileo-- Europe's satellite system for
radio navigation.
Both sides will also review the progress made in bilateral
negotiations to make the EU an authorized destination for Chinese
visitors.
Commissioner Pascal Lamy, responsible for Trade, will be part of
the EU delegation, and will use the opportunity to review EU-China
trade relations.
(China Daily October 28, 2003)