By Daisy Ayliffe - 1st September 2005
The current textile crisis is set to overshadow discussions at an EU-China summit on Monday.
Brussels trade chief Peter Mandelson will accompany Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso to Beijing where he will attempt to secure concessions from the Chinese authorities and end the ongoing 'bra wars'.
Mandelson said on Thursday he was hopeful that EU member states would soon back his plan to release blocked Chinese clothing piling up at European ports so that he could then negotiate a possible compromise from Beijing.
The commissioner has warned of clothing shortages and higher prices if a deal fails to materialise.
Textile producing member states have urged Beijing to cut its import quota levels for 2006-7 in return for the EU allowing in more Chinese imports in this year.
China's commerce minister said on Friday he was confident of solving the problem.
Blair's seal of approval
UK Prime Minister Tony Blair who currently holds the rotating EU presidency will join the European delegation and has promised Mandelson his efforts have the UK government’s “full” backing.
Blair's spokesman added that the dispute was a "precise illustration" of the prime minister's belief in "the need for Europe as a whole to modernise to meet the challenge from China and India."
"As we saw in this case, the pace of change is picking up speed all the time. Therefore, as a continent, we have to meet that challenge," he said.
United front
The summit marks the 30th Anniversary of EU-China relations and officials hope it “will reflect the fact that the EU and China increasingly act jointly on global challenges.”
Under a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to be signed on Monday, the EU and China will hold meetings on employment and social affairs issues.
The MoU, between the commission and the Chinese government, will provide the framework for dialogue on areas such as social protection and cohesion, employment, labour legislation and relations and social dialogue.
Each side will visit the other at least once a year in Brussels and Beijing alternately.
Vladimír Špidla, EU Commissioner for Employment, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities, said the agreement would provide a solid basis for policy dialogue and cooperation.
“This MoU will provide mutual learning opportunities for both sides. China is a rapidly emerging economy and a major player in international trade – it is time for a policy dialogue between the EU and China on employment and social affairs issues,” he said.
Climate change - the heat is on
With experts warning that China’s CO2 emissions from coal use will double by 2030, the launch of a climate change partnership will also be high on the agenda.
“At the 8th EU-China Summit we will agree on a new strategic dialogue with China and, through a joint declaration, launch an important new partnership to enable us to act jointly on climate change, one of the most significant global challenges of our times,” Barosso commented.
Meanwhile Tony Blair will announce plans to hand China the technology for a power station designed to combat climate change.
The coal fired plant is designed to capture its own emissions of greenhouse gases and bury them in underground porous rocks.
Summit discussions will also focus on human rights as well as a number of regional and international issues, including UN reform, North Korea and Myanmar.
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