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Chinese and Europeans are similar in many aspects.
They bracket one continent and seem to be moving closer all the time.
The ancient Silk Road trading route has been transfigured and multiplied.
There is no longer fatigue after a seemingly endless caravan ride, only jet lag.
Both scions of ancient civilization, they respect history and heritage, paying equal attention to rites and rituals -- a legacy of Confucius' state of courtesy and King Louis XIV's rule of etiquette.
Strong tradition, however, does not stifle ingenuity and creativity, for which China and Europe are both known.
They are also hard at work, counting the time for business in minutes whenever possible and devoting themselves to a career whatever it may be.
Another important thing, their citizens cherish the notion of peace and would pay dearly to prevent the scourge of war that once hollowed their lands and minds half a century ago.
It is not unexpected that Chinese and the different nationalities and cultures of Europe would have wide-ranging similarities and areas where they could complement each other.
People in China and Europe are finding common ground for benefits in trade.
So it is no surprise that the European Union (EU) is now China's major trading partner.
The volume for the first three quarters of this year has already surpassed 2003's total.
There is also great interest in travel, meaning millions of business people or tourists visit each year.
After the EU countries were approved as tourist destinations for Chinese, souvenir peddlers and boutique managers gasped at they poured in, spending more money than the Japanese or people from the United States.
But they quickly went from smiling to saying nihao (hello) and pianyi (cheap). Chinese youngsters have been shipped off for European schooling.
There are about 150,000 of them enrolled in primary schools, universities and everything else in between.
And with such close and frequent contact, fewer and fewer people would be hanging on to old stereotypes.
Another common interest is surely for a peaceful world, which both the Chinese and Europeans believe should be maintained through coordination and collaboration, preferably under a well-established mechanism and by accepted guiding principles.
They are equally skilled at coexisting, like through the creation of economic joint ventures.
Sophisticated old hands in terms of corporate development, resource management and marketing, European companies have been transferring modern entrepreneurial expertise and international practices to their Chinese counterparts.
Technological strength and research capabilities are often also injected into many co-founded projects.
These are, nowadays, more highly valued than cash, which was once indispensable for fledgling Chinese companies.
Instead of cheap labor and low production costs, which used to be the main attractions for overseas investors, China is now providing a quality work force, upgrading its performance, creating a more user-friendly business environment and most importantly, offering a maturing and flourishing market.
Cultural contrast is as stark as one can imagine.
But by giving each other a week, a month, or a year to display their art, life and soul, residents in Beijing, Shanghai, Paris and Berlin have been rewarded with novel performances on stage, exotic art, new food and a fuller understanding of the world.
However, all is not perfect in the relationship. There are grievances at times over such things as human rights and then on a business level over issues like exchange rates and trade rules.
Although trade is believed by many, if not all, to be the strongest and most effective "invisible hand" and, if properly maneuvered, a handy lever to prop up an economy, various restrictions remain in place.
It is understandable that even the most developed economy would, in certain sectors, resort to measures that help buffer the impact of cheaper imports.
But it is bewildering that some of the government rulings, like the 15-year-old embargo on arms sales to China, could hang around for so long with diminishing legitimacy.
One may blame red tape for their existence, but such a discriminatory mandate -- besides the EU's reluctance to recognize China as a full market economy and its constant criticism of China's human rights record -- creates political distrust and encourages a confrontational mentality. Although only held by a few, they cause much trouble.
A prosperous future for China and Europe is tied to wisdom, thinking that can steer the course of bilateral relations.
The China-EU Summit is good time for such wisdom to come to the fore.
As the first top-ranking encounter between China and the enlarged European bloc, and the maiden meeting between Premier Wen Jiabao and the new EU leadership, it is of increased importance.
It is a time to get a clearer definition and a more detailed blueprint of the China-EU strategic partnership.
(China Daily December 7, 2004)
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