The European Union (EU) employment and social affairs
commissioner Vladimir Spidla is leaving for China Friday after a
new labor contract law entered into effect in the most populous
country.
An EU official said the main purpose of the visit is to hold
policy dialogue and strengthen cooperation with China on employment
and social affairs, where the two economies share a lot in
common.
During his three-day visit, Spidla will sign a memorandum of
understanding with the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, a key
think tank for the Chinese government, on the future policy
challenges in areas such as employment, social security,
demography, social dialogue and labor relations.
With regard to demographic change, the EU official said both the
27-nation bloc and China will experience a dramatic aging of their
populations and see the beginning of a modest decline in population
size after 2025.
Spidla is expected to open a joint seminar in Shanghai Monday to
discuss how to respond to the structural changes linked to aging
societies in both the EU and China, in terms of employment,
economic and social policies.
The official said the EU with 27 member states is comparable to
China with economically diverse provinces and it would like to
share its experience in managing diversity and find common ground
in China's drive to build a harmonious society.
"The idea of a harmonious society in China echoes, to some
extent, to the EU's idea of trying to combine economic progress and
social progress," he said.
Also on Monday, Spidla will meet with the EU Chamber of Commerce
in China in Shanghai with the discussion focusing on corporate
social responsibility.
Spidla's visit came after a new labor contract law was put into
effect in China at the beginning of this year, which endows
employees with better protection of their rights.
The EU official said the EU is prepared to have further
discussion on the new law with China, but it will not be a detailed
one during the commissioner's visit.
He said some EU companies operating in China may raise the issue
when they meet Spidla Monday.
(Xinhua News Agency January 11, 2008)
