By Martin Banks - 25th February 2008
A senior commission official has voiced concern over future EU-China relations.
Speaking on Monday, Etienne Reuter said there was a danger China may seek to take advantage of divisions between EU member states on everything from the war in Iraq to Kosovo.
“This is a very worrying trend,” he told a meeting organised by the European policy centre, a leading Brussels-based think-tank.
Reuter, a senior adviser on Asian affairs for the commission, said the EU was “very much” aware of the growing importance of China as an economic power.
“No important issue in the world, be it climate change or anything else, can be tackled without the active involvement of China.
“The problem is that the EU does not come across as a united bloc. The vision was for a strong EU but it is still very much a soft power.
“Because its divisions are so visible, we almost invite our partners to play on this disunity. This is a very worrying trend which the EU needs to overcome.”
Reuter, who lived in Hong Kong for seven years, also said he believes that claims of an “imbalance” in trade between the EU and China were “exaggerated”.
He said that the popular perception of Beijing being more of a threat than an opportunity should be resisted.
“It will be increasingly important to have China as a natural partner on everything from the environment to natural resources and the United Nations.”
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