20th EU-China Summit in Beijing, 16/07/2018

July 17, 2018 by European Union Leave a Comment

From left to right: Mr Donald TUSK, President of the European Council; Mr Xi JINPING, President of the People’s Republic of China.
Shoot location: Beijing – CHINA
Shoot date: 16/07/2018
Copyright: European Union

This story is brought to you in association with the European Union Council The EU and China agreed to further develop the EU-China strategic partnership at the 20th EU-China summit. Leaders expressed their joint support for rules-based trade and reaffirmed their joint engagement to reform the World Trade Organisation:

“It is a common duty of Europe and China, America and Russia, not to destroy this order, but to improve it. Not to start trade wars, which turned into hot conflicts so often in our history, but to bravely and responsibly reform the rules-based international order.” Remarks by President Donald Tusk after the EU-China summit, 16 July 2018

They also discussed foreign and security cooperation and the situation in their respective neighbourhoods. President Donald Tusk and President Jean-Claude Juncker represented the EU at the summit. Chinese Premier Li Keqiang hosted the summit. EU leaders also had talks with President Xi Jinping. EU and Chinese leaders adopted a joint statement including a statement on climate change and clean energy (annexed to the declaration):

EU-China cooperation

The EU and China committed to deepen the EU-China strategic partnership, which celebrated its 15th anniversary:

“This has greatly enhanced the level of EU-China relations, with fruitful outcomes achieved in politics, economy, trade, culture, people-to-people exchanges and other fields. The Leaders reaffirmed their commitment to deepening their partnership for peace, growth, reform and civilisation.” Joint statement of the 20th EU-China Summit

The summit was an opportunity for a discussion on cooperation on human rights. The EU and China welcomed the holding of their human rights dialogue in China in July. Leaders reaffirmed the importance of fighting climate change. Both sides are committed to advance cooperation on the implementation of the Paris Agreement and fully support the COP24, which will take place in December 2018 in Poland. Both sides also agreed to improve the governance of migration and to provide comprehensive responses to displacement.

Trade

EU and Chinese leaders expressed their strong commitment to the rules-based trading system with the World Trade Organisation (WTO) at its core. Both sides agreed to cooperate on the WTO reform and to help it meet new challenges:

“The EU is committed to working towards the modernisation of the WTO and calls on all partners to contribute positively to this goal. We propose a comprehensive approach to improving, together with like-minded partners, the functioning of the WTO in crucial areas. (…) the aim of this reform should be to strengthen the WTO as an institution and to ensure a level playing field.” Remarks by President Donald Tusk after the EU-China summit, 16 July 2018

Regarding the issue of steel overcapacity, leaders agreed to strengthen their cooperation in international fora and to follow the policy recommendations of the Global Forum on Steel Excess Capacity. In addition, they agreed to forge synergies between China’s belt and road initiative and the EU’s initiative with a view to improve Europe-Asia connectivity.

Foreign and security policy

Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to multilateralism and the rules-based international order with the UN at its core. The EU and China agreed to reinforce their dialogue and cooperation on foreign and security policy. Leaders said that they support the various efforts to find a peaceful solution to the North Korean nuclear issue through diplomatic means. They expressed their support for the complete denuclearisation of the Korean peninsula. They also reaffirmed their commitment to the Iran nuclear deal (JCPOA). In addition, the EU and China expressed their joint support for:

a two-state solution in the Middle East
a political solution to the Syrian conflict
the stabilisation of Libya
the peace process in Afghanistan

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