Chinese Trade Minister Bo Xilai met with Commissioner for Trade Peter Mandelson and Commissioner for External Relations and European Neighbourhood Policy Benita Ferrero-Waldner in Brussels today.
In bilateral meetings and a formal sitting of the EC-China Economic and Trade Joint Committee, the Commission and Chinese representatives discussed all aspects of the ever-increasing relationship between China and the EU, with particular attention to economic and trade matters.
Talks focused on intensive cooperation between the Commission and China in the twenty ongoing technical 'dialogues' in areas ranging from the environment and energy to education and intellectual property rights.
Talks with Commissioner Mandelson focussed on the Doha Round; market access for EU businesses in China; the protection of intellectual property rights in China and China's progress towards Market Economy Status.
Speaking after the meeting EU Trade Commissioner Peter Mandelson said: "This has been an important year in EU-China trade relations. EU-China trade is likely to continue to break records in 2005. China represents a formidable challenge to Europe but it is also a growing market for the products Europe produces best. Today's talks have reinforced the need for greater ambition from both sides, but also our mutual commitment to ensuring that competition and cooperation continue to go hand in hand."
EU External Relations Commissioner Benita Ferrero Waldner said: "In addition to the political, economic and trade aspects of our relationship, our co-operation stretches into areas as diverse as environment, energy and transport. The work we do together in areas such as these makes an important contribution, firstly to China's transformation process, but also to securing better living conditions of millions of European and Chinese citizens".
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