A few days ago, the famous pianist Lang Lang performed at the end of the Clara Music Festival in Brussels. The Posa Theatre, which can hold more than 2000 audiences, was full of people and applauded loudly.
Derek Vaughn is a member of the delegation of the European Parliament on relations with China, and is also the vice chairman of the EU China Friendship Association. In an interview with our reporter, he said, "The best way for Europe and China to improve their understanding is to go to the other country to visit. Especially for Europeans, only when they go to China can they see a real China that they cannot learn from TV." Therefore, it is an important task for the Association to plan and arrange exchanges and visits between Chinese and European delegations.
Vaughn said that in 2013 alone, the Association has contributed to several major events, including: signing agreements with Xi'an City and Liaoning Province to help them carry out in-depth cooperation with EU governments, organizations, enterprises and schools at all levels in the fields of economy and trade, culture, tourism, education, etc; Hold an investment promotion conference in the European Parliament for Zhaoqing City, Guangdong Province; The Brussels Summit of the World Design Forum, attended by more than 300 politicians, environmental experts, designers and entrepreneurs from various countries, was jointly organized with the Chinese Mission to the European Union.
Vaughn told reporters that the reason why the Association is so keen on promoting EU China relations is that the EU and China are two important forces on the world stage. "The EU is the largest economic community and political union. China is a country with rapid economic development and great international influence. The combined population of Europe and China exceeds 1.8 billion, accounting for a quarter of the world's population. A good EU China relationship will not only benefit the EU and the Chinese people, but also make a significant contribution to world peace and development."
Sada Islam, policy director of the famous think tank "Friends of Europe", expressed the same view. "Europe and China share extensive common interests, and the development of EU China relations faces rare historical opportunities." Islam said that she very much agreed with Chinese Foreign Minister Minister of Foreign Affairs Wang Yi's view that "China EU cooperation will make the world safer, more balanced and better".
Dewa, president of the EU China Friendship Association, told our reporter that 10 years ago, there were not many members of the European Parliament who really knew China.
A trip to China in 2007 strengthened Deva's determination to promote EU China friendship. In the past 10 years, thanks to the joint efforts of Deva, Galeen and the EU China Friendship Association, there have been more and more "positive energy" and "good voices" in the European Parliament that comprehensively promote China and advocate EU China cooperation.
In June 2011, Congressman Dirk Jan Eppingk organized a large-scale photo exhibition entitled "Cultural China, Splendid Sichuan" in the European Parliament. In addition to lovely pandas, beautiful scenery, rich food and colorful culture, the pictures also highlight the achievements of Wenchuan in post earthquake reconstruction. Many EU officials were deeply moved and expressed their admiration for the Chinese government and people.
With her achievements in promoting the development of EU China friendly relations, Gailin became the only Chinese civil servant in the European Parliament.
Gailin believes that "today, when diversity of civilizations is advocated, both Western thinking and Eastern wisdom are needed. Both sides should treat each other with a more inclusive attitude, respect each other's development path chosen according to their own national conditions, and establish a model for different civilizations to learn from each other and achieve common prosperity."
"Economic and trade cooperation is the ballast of China EU relations", which has become the consensus of Chinese and European officials and scholars. A group of data recently released by the Ministry of Commerce of China proves this again: in 2013, the trade volume between China and Europe reached 559.1 billion US dollars, up 2.1% year on year. The EU is China's largest trading partner and largest import market. China is the largest import market and the second largest trading partner of the EU. By the end of 2013, the accumulated EU investment in China had exceeded 90 billion US dollars; China's accumulated direct investment in the EU has also exceeded 35 billion US dollars.
In the increasingly close economic and trade relations, it is inevitable that there are frictions and contradictions between the two sides. Last year, the Sino European photovoltaic case attracted global attention. However, thanks to the efforts of the leaders of China and the EU, after many rounds of arduous and intensive consultations, this trade conflict involving the largest amount in the history of China EU trade has been properly resolved, and a potential trade war has been saved.
The dispute did not deepen the estrangement, but gave the two sides new insights. More people can take the "growing pains" of China EU relations with an ordinary mind.
Vaughn pointed out: "It is not terrible to have troubles. The key is that both sides should handle problems objectively, rationally, pragmatically and flexibly, and find solutions that meet the common interests of both sides." He said, "After the photovoltaic friction, the EU China Friendship Association helped Chinese companies to conduct extensive consultations with the International Trade Committee of the European Parliament, the Market Protection Committee, the Chinese Affairs Commissioner of the Foreign Affairs Bureau and representatives of important government public relations companies, and achieved good results."
In this regard, Barroso said to the media: "The settlement of the photovoltaic case shows that the EU and China have the will and ability to deal with challenging trade issues, and also allows us to accumulate experience in dealing with similar issues, that is, to sit down and actively negotiate when encountering differences to avoid them becoming disputes."
Duncan Freeman, senior researcher of the Institute of Contemporary China Studies at the Free University of Brussels, Belgium, said to our reporter: "Europe and China are both important economies in the world, and the focus of EU China relations is also economic and trade relations. The two sides should actively carry out cooperation in various fields and all aspects in the field of economic and trade. Only by making a bigger cake and increasing the convergence of interests, can the development of EU China economic and trade relations have a wider space." (Our correspondent in Brussels, March 20)
