Leaders from China and the European Union (EU) concluded their 11th summit with a joint press communique?in P)rague?on Wednesday, pledging further cooperation in various fields.
The following is the full text of the communique.
1. The 11th China-EU Summit was held in Prague on May 20, 2009. Premier Wen Jiabao of the State Council of the People's Republic of China attended the meeting on behalf of China. The European Union was represented by President of the Czech Republic Vaclav Klaus, President of the European Commission Jose Manuel Barroso, and Secretary-General of the Council of the EU/High Representative for the Common Foreign and Security Policy Javier Solana.
2. After an overall review of the development of their relations, leaders of both sides expressed their satisfaction with the rapid expansion of the relationship between China and the EU since the first Summit in 1998 which is now much deeper and stronger, founded on a global, strategic and mutually beneficial partnership. The EU welcomes China's development and supports China's continued path of peaceful development. China reaffirmed its support for the EU's integration process and welcomes the EU's constructive role in international affairs. As a new decade opens for the China-EU Summit, the two sides restated their firm commitment to pursuing the China-EU comprehensive strategic partnership and their willingness to work together for their mutual development, in forward-looking manner based on the principles of mutual respect, equality, mutual trust, reciprocity and win-win cooperation.
3. Both sides stressed that in a complex and ever-changing international context, China-EU relations increasingly transcend the bilateral framework and take on an international dimension. The two sides reaffirmed their active commitment to peace, stability, security, prosperity and sustainable development in the world, as well as to peaceful resolution of disputes by means of dialogue, effective multilateralism and the United Nations.
4. Discussions focused on China-EU relations, the global economic and financial crisis, climate change and energy security as well as an exchange of views on regional issues (Korean Peninsula, Myanmar, Iran, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan and Pakistan). Leaders expressed their determination to strengthen cooperation, further work together to address global challenges including the financial crisis and climate change, and remain actively committed to enhancing coordination and cooperation in international affairs.
5. Leaders expressed their satisfaction with the Second High-level Economic and Trade Dialogue (HED) which was successfully held in Brussels on May 7-8. The HED agenda will be followed up in the appropriate dialogues and working groups. The Leaders restated their commitment to comprehensively implementing the communique at the London Summit, to resisting and rejecting protectionism of all forms and to reaching an ambitious, balanced and comprehensive conclusion to the Doha Development Round at an early date.
6. During the summit, the two parties signed cooperative agreements including the Joint Statement on China-Europe Clean Energy Center, China-EU Science and Technology Partnership Scheme, and China-EU SMEs Cooperation Point of Consensus.
7. Leaders agreed to meet again in Beijing in the second half of the year.
8. The Leaders also expressed their gratitude to the government and people of the Czech Republic for their hospitality and for the excellent organization of a successful summit.
(Xinhua News Agency May 21, 2009)
