Details

The meeting was given prominence by the participation of high ranking Chinese politicians. They included Vice Premier Li Keqiang, Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Zhang Zhijun, State Councilor Dai Binguo, Li Junru, the former Vice President of the Central Party School and many others. The European guests were received by Prime Minister Wen Jiabao who took more than an hour for the meeting with an open discussion.

Guests from Europe included Jean-Pierre Raffarin and Dr. Medgyessy Péter, former Prime Ministers of France and Hungary respectively, and John Prescott, former British Deputy Prime Minister. German participants included Dr. Theo Sommer, Die Zeit, Dr. Gudrun Wacker, German Institute of International and Security Affairs, Prof. Eberhard Sandschneider of the German Council on Foreign Relations, and Wolfgang Meyer of the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung.

The meeting underlined the importance China attaches to a strategic partnership with Europe in a multi polar world. Such a partnership does not exist with the United States. Chinese speakers, including the Prime Minister, emphasized expectations of an EU commitment to lift the arms embargo and to grant Market Economy Status. Tibet remains a potential stumbling block for China EU relations. The Tibet issue is deeply imbedded in the Chinese psyche, more so that most Europeans may be aware. Chinese and European speakers alike expressed concern about the worsening public opinions prevailing in China and Europe alike about the partner. Negative media reporting appears to have contributed to this trend. Disillusionment on Europe by young educated Chinese requires attention as much as China’s image in Europe which was considered to hardly reflect today’s Chinese reality. Agreement seems to have prevailed that Europe and some European nation states lack politicians with in-depth knowledge about China and experience in working with Chinese counterparts. To build more trust continuity in exchange between Chinese and European leaders should be sought. The principles of respect and mutual benefit as the basis of Sino-European relations have been referred to repeatedly by Chinese speakers, including the Premier.

It has been proposed to explore the option of establishing a joint wise persons’ group of about six participants on each side to advise on how to develop the China – EU strategic partnership.