China, EU reach 'important consensus'
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China and the European Union (EU) reached an "important consensus" on high technology trade during economic and trade talks in Beijing Tuesday, said Chinese Vice Premier Wang Qishan.
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The two sides also agreed to improve trade and investment, innovation and customs cooperation, he said at a joint press conference after the third China-EU High-Level Economic and Trade Dialogue.
"The EU side agreed to enhance communication with the Chinese side for early recognition of China's market economy status," Wang said.
The two sides also reiterated the importance of stepping up coordination and cooperation in the G20 and other global economic governance platforms and jointly promoting the reform of international economic and financial rules and standards.
"It is important to oppose all forms of protectionism with concrete actions, and push for comprehensive and balanced outcomes of the WTO Doha Round negotiations at an early date," Wang said at the press briefing.
The one-day talks were co-chaired by Wang and European Commission Vice President in charge of competition policy Joaquin Almunia, Trade Commissioner Karel De Gucht and Commissioner for Economic and Monetary Affairs Olli Rehn.
"The EU remains strongly committed to its strategic partnership with China," Almunia said during the dialogue.
Almunia said the EU would push forward trade and economic ties with China from a "strategic perspective", and advance the EU-China partnership of strategic cooperation.
The 27-member EU is China's biggest trade partner. China is the EU's second-biggest trade partner and its biggest source of imports.
EU-China trade increased 33.1 percent year on year in the first 11 months to 433.88 billion U.S. dollars.
Officials from China's Ministry of Commerce, National Development and Reform Commission as well as Ministry of Industry and Information Technology participated in the dialogue.
The EU was also represented at the talks by Commissioner for Taxation and Customs Union Algirdas Semeta, Director General for Enterprise Heinz Zourek and Deputy Director-General for Information Society Antti Peltomaki.
