1. The eighth China-EU Summit was held in Beijing on 5 September 2005. Premier Wen Jiabao of the State Council of China attended the meeting on behalf of the People’s Republic of China. The EU was represented by the President of the European Council, Prime Minister Tony Blair of the UK, President of the European Commission, Mr. José Manuel Barroso, and Secretary General of the Council of the EU and High Representative for the EU Common Foreign and Security Policy, Mr. Javier Solana.

2. Leaders of the two sides reviewed the development of China-EU relations and celebrated the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations. Both were of the view that the past three decades had seen great changes in China and the EU and a progressive deepening of the relationship, which is fast maturing into a comprehensive strategic partnership. They believed that the strengthening of the relationship had been of great value to the long-term interests of China and the EU, to cooperation between Asia and Europe, as well as to peace, stability and development in the world at large. The leaders now wished to look ahead to the future, developing the strategic relationship through concrete actions.

3. During the Summit, the two sides endorsed:

– a memorandum of understanding on labour, employment and social affairs

– a joint statement on cooperation in space exploitation, science and technology development

– a memorandum of understanding on China-EU dialogue on energy and transport strategies

– a maritime protocol extending the existing maritime agreement to new member states and

– two major financing agreements for the China-EU bio-diversity and river basin management programmes

Furthermore, leaders witnessed the signing of a 500 million Euro loan from the European Investment Bank for the extension of Beijing airport.

4. During the meeting, a Joint Declaration on Climate Change between China and the EU was issued, which confirmed the establishment of a China-EU partnership on climate change. The two sides were determined to tackle the serious challenges of climate change through practical and results-oriented cooperation. This partnership will fully complement the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change and the Kyoto Protocol. It will strengthen cooperation and dialogue on climate change including clean energy, and will promote sustainable development. It will include cooperation on the development, deployment and transfer of low carbon technology, including advanced near-zero-emissions coal technology through carbon capture and storage.

5. The two sides emphasised the importance of high-level political dialogue and consultations at all levels in enhancing understanding, expanding common ground and advancing bilateral relations. Leaders of the two sides welcomed the recently established high-level coordination mechanism and agreed to launch a regular vice foreign ministerial strategic dialogue mechanism by the end of 2005 to discuss important international and regional issues and exchange views on bilateral issues of common concern.

6. The two sides agreed to move towards early negotiations on a new China-EU Framework Agreement. The leaders instructed their respective services to expedite preparatory work with a view to concluding at an early date an agreement that will reflect the full breadth and depth of the strategic partnership between China and the EU.

7. The EU side reaffirmed its continued adherence to the one China policy and expressed its hope for a peaceful resolution of the Taiwan question through constructive dialogue. The Chinese side appreciated EU’s commitment to the one China policy and reiterated its principled position on the Taiwan question.

8. Leaders discussed the EU arms embargo. The Chinese side was of the view that lifting the arms embargo would be conducive to the sound development of the China-EU comprehensive strategic partnership and urged the EU to lift the arms embargo at an early date. The EU side reaffirmed its willingness to continue to work towards lifting the embargo on the basis of the Joint Statement of the 2004 EU-China Summit and the subsequent European Council Conclusions on this subject.

9. As strategic partners, the two sides reiterated their cooperation in the fields of non-proliferation and disarmament. They will continue to maintain and enhance dialogue and cooperation on the basis of the Joint Declaration of the People’s Republic of China and the European Union on Non-proliferation and Arms Control which was adopted at the 2004 China-EU Summit.

10. The two sides underlined their commitment to the protection and promotion of human rights and continued to place a high value on the EU-China human rights dialogue. They underlined the importance of concrete steps in the field of human rights and reaffirmed their commitment to further enhance co-operation and exchanges in this field on the basis of equality and mutual respect, while making efforts to achieving more meaningful and positive results on the ground. The EU welcomed China’s commitment to ratifying the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) as soon as possible. Both sides confirmed their commitment to co-operate with UN human rights mechanisms and their respect for international human rights standards provided for in relevant international human rights instruments， including the rights of minorities. In respect of the global fight against genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity, they also noted the importance of the International Criminal Court.

11. Both sides reiterated that China and the EU were committed to efforts to promote world peace, security and sustainable development, with the United Nations at its core. The two sides expressed support for UN reform aimed at improving its ability to cope with the existing and new threats and challenges. The two sides reiterated that any model of reform should be decided upon by consensus through consultations.

12. The two sides will continue to cooperate in international and regional affairs, including through ASEM and the ASEAN Regional Forum. The two sides shared a desire to enhance and promote security and stability in East Asia. The EU reiterated its support for achieving a nuclear-weapon-free Korean Peninsula and maintaining peace and stability there. It expressed its appreciation for China’s active role in this and stood ready to provide necessary help when appropriate.

13. The two sides agreed to further strengthen mutual cooperation and sectoral dialogues to deepen and broaden trade and investment flows, which should take place in a balanced and mutually beneficial way. The two sides welcomed the first China-EU Financial Dialogue that took place in Brussels in February 2005.

14. The EU side welcomed the achievements China has made towards building a market economy. The two sides agreed to launch high-level dialogues to address outstanding issues with a view to achieving positive progress on the issue of MES.

15. Both sides welcomed the China-EU Business Summit being held here today. They recognised the vital importance of transparency in commercial decision making, robust corporate governance, effective implementation of protection of intellectual property and safeguarding the interest of consumers in creating a positive business environment for continued economic growth and individual prosperity. With this in mind China and the EU agreed to deepen the dialogue on intellectual property rights, strengthen cooperation in the field of sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) and consumer product safety and in particular welcomed the recently established intellectual property rights working group.

16. Both sides were determined to honour and implement their WTO commitments, and work together closely to achieve a successful Hong Kong Ministerial Conference that will deliver an ambitious and balanced package allowing completion of the Doha Development Agenda in 2006.

17. Both sides confirmed their intention to strengthen the China-EU Science and Technology partnership, which is based on substantial achievements of mutual benefit. They recognised that the Joint Declaration and the Vision Paper adopted in Beijing in May 2005 and the CO-REACH initiative laid a strategic foundation for further cooperation. They will create the appropriate conditions for a series of high impact Science and Technology events in China and Europe starting in 2006 to prepare for a “China-EU science and technology year”.

18. Both sides expressed their satisfaction at China-EU cooperation within the framework of the Galileo programme. They stressed their full commitment to making Galileo a commercial and technical success worldwide, and called for detailed talks on the conditions related to China’s joining of the European GNSS Supervisory Authority and the participation of Chinese enterprises in the Galileo Operation Concessionaire.

19. The two sides looked forward to the early implementation of the ITER scheme and further strengthening of their cooperation in the relevant fields.

20. Leaders of the two sides also pledged to work together to tackle the problem of illegal logging in the Asian region.

21. The two sides welcomed the Memorandum of Understanding launching a dialogue between China and the EU on their strategies in the energy and transport sectors. Both sides highlighted the importance of continuing and intensifying their cooperation in the energy and transport sectors.

22. Leaders of the two sides noted that they would take active measures to expand education cooperation and exchanges through intensified dialogues. They also welcomed the strengthening of cooperation in higher education through the Erasmus Mundus programme and planned to hold a China-EU forum on higher education in Beijing in 2005.

23. The two sides agreed to start negotiations before the end of 2005 on a China-EU horizontal aviation agreement. This will aim to resolve outstanding legal issues in bilateral air services agreements between China and EU Member States. The two sides also agreed to engage in negotiations in the coming months with a view to concluding an agreement relating to technical cooperation in civil aviation. The two sides believed that the successful China-EU Aviation Summit held in Beijing on 30 June-1 July 2005 marked the beginning of a new era in China-EU civil aviation.

24. The two sides will intensify their cooperation in order to guarantee the smooth and efficient implementation of the Approved Destination Status (ADS) Memorandum of Understanding.

25. The leaders underlined that activities on facilitating people-to-people exchanges and cooperation in combating illegal migration are a priority for both sides. In the spirit of full reciprocity, leaders discussed issues of readmission and visa facilitation. The two sides planned to open negotiations on issues of their respective concern.

26. Leaders of the two sides welcomed the exchanges between scholars and think- tanks of China and the EU, including the cooperation and exchanges between the China Institute of International Studies, the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences and the relevant European research institutions.

Reference: IP/05/1091