Foreign and Military Affairs
Exclusive Interview with Ashton: China, EU may meet more 'difficult moments'
By Fu Jing (chinadaily.com.cn)
Updated: 2010-08-29 23:10
 |
Large Medium Small |
|
||||
China Daily: Some Chinese are urging for the EU to stop consultation with the US when deciding China's market economy status and lifting weapon's embargo. What are the EU's newest stances towards these two issues? Any timetable in the pipeline so far?
Ashton: Both sides have work to do on this. The European Council of 16-17 December 2004 reaffirmed the EU's political will to work towards a lifting of the arms embargo, and this has not changed. Progress on human rights in China would help. It is also normal for us to take into account the legitimate interests of the EU's other partners and the overall political situation in the region.
Ashton: China and US want ties to prosper
China Daily: The relationship between China and the US has met some problems recently. What are the EU's stances to the development? And does the EU have plans to cool down the intension?
Ashton: The EU attaches great importance to maintaining stability, security and prosperity in the East Asia region and to the development of good relations between China and the United States is part of this. We are pleased to note that under the Obama administration, US-China relations have developed a strong institutional basis, and I am convinced that both sides want this relationship to prosper
EU not seek to impose values
China Daily: I read some speeches you made on different occasions. You repeatedly said that your major mission is to project European values worldwide. In your understanding, what are the essences of European values? How do you plan to spread these in China? How do you comment on the criticism and argument that the EU has imposed their value standards and practices to other countries, without enough mutual respect for the diversity of the world? Why have some developing countries have been in poverty for ages though they put Western values into use?
Ashton: Our motto is "unity in diversity" because the European Union is made up of 27 Member States which all have their own distinct cultures and identities. As a result, we respect cultural diversity, not only within Europe, but also outside, and we don't seek to impose our views on the rest of the world.
At the same time the EU adheres to a set of values, such as respect for the rule of law and respect for human rights. But these are not just European values: in fact they are almost everywhere universally recognized, including in the Chinese constitution, and they are enshrined in a number of international conventions. In our external relations, therefore, the European Union, in accordance with our founding principles, is committed to working together with our partners, as well as through the United Nations, to advance important issues such as the protection of human rights and the development of international law, including respect for the principles of the United Nations Charter.
