By Martin Banks - 17th June 2009
From time to time issues will occur which will cause friction
Franz Jessen
A senior European commission official says that EU-China relations "remain on track" despite serious strains last year sparked by differences over Tibet and the Dalai Lama.
Addressing a European Policy Centre (EPC) debate, Franz Jessen said, "From time to time issues will occur whcih will cause friction.
"But this should not detract us from the what is, I believe, a strong and good relationship."
He was speaking at the Brussels debate in the wake of the recent 12th EU-China summit in Prague which had been due to be held in December but was cancelled by the Chinese, angry over the EU's reaction to Beijing's military response to the 2008 Tibetan uprising.
Despite the pledges made in Prague on 20 May, both sides are still struggling to conclude a partnership and cooperation agreement and to resolve bilateral trade problems.
Even so, Jessen, who is head of the China unit in the commission, said there were currently "no less" than 56 bilateral negotiations taking place between the EU and China on a whole range of issues, from trade to consumer safety.
"Some of these," he said, "have already produced very substantial results and are an example of the strong EU-China relationship."
Speaking at the same event, Song Zhe, China's ambassador to the EU, said the Prague summit had helped to "revive' the "unique and complex" relationship between the two sides.
He said that this should "transcend" any differences which may arise from time to time.
However, he was particularly critical of the EU over its continuing arms embargo against China which he described as "absurd political discrimination."
He said, "We would like to know why the EU maintains this embargo. We would also like to know why the EU appears reluctant to recognise China's successful and remarkable adoption of a market economic status."
Song added, "These issues show that more needs to be done by both sides, particularly the EU."
He also said is wrong to portray China as a country set on "ruling the world", pointing out that though it has a fifth of the world's population, it was still a developing country whose modernisation programme may take "generations" to complete.
Have your say...
Please enter your comments below.