By Martin Banks - 26th May 2010
The relationship between the EU and China is a strategic partnership
Jerzy Buzek
A senior Chinese official says Jerzy Buzek's visit to Beijing and Shanghai this week has given "new impetus" to EU-China relations.
During his visit from 23-30 May, parliament's president met Chinese vice president Xi Jinping, premier Wen Jiabao, chairman of the National People's Congress, Wu Bangguo, and foreign affairs minister, Yang Jiechi.
Climate change and energy were key issues during his visit and he also met with Xie Zhenhua, the climate change envoy of China.
The Polish MEP spoke at the University of Nanjing about the strategic partnership between the EU and China and delivered the keynote speech to a conference, "China-EU: a revisited partnership in the aftermath of the global financial, economic and social crisis," held at the EU pavilion at the World Expo in Shanghai.
"The relationship between the EU and China is a strategic partnership. We need to act together on the global stage as the challenges we are facing are of global importance," said Buzek.
His comments were echoed by Li Zhaoxing, chairman of the foreign affairs committee in the National People's Congress (NPC).
He told Parliament Magazine the NPC had established a regular exchange 'mechanism' with parliaments in 15 countries and the European parliament, the first to do so.
Parliament's delegation for relations with China was set up in 1981 and, initially, both sides met once a year.
He said, "In recent years, the exchanges between China and parliament have been steadily developing and, so far, 28 official meetings have been held."
The 29th and 30th meetings between the two parliaments will be held in Strasbourg in June and in Beijing in November.
He said, "We believe that the pragmatic exchanges and cooperation between the NPC of China and parliament will give new impetus to the all-round development of China/EU relations."
Song Zhe, China's ambassador to the EU, told this magazine, "We see Buzek's visit as one the important high-level exchanges this year.
"We believe this visit will contribute greatly to the friendly exchange and cooperation between the legislatures of China and the EU.
"It will also promote understanding, friendship and cooperation between the two peoples."
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