Political party leaders promise more talks

Reinhard Bütikofer

Véronique De Keyser

Elmar Brok

Graham Watson

Brussels – Despite differences over issues such as trade conflicts, intellectual property rights, securities, and human rights between China and EU, leaders of EU political parties promised to continue talks with the Communist Party of China and seek mutual understanding.

At the end of the third China-EU High Level Political Parties Forum in Brussels, Reinhard Bütikofer, vice-president of the Greens / EFA group, said the frank exchange of ideas can help reduce risks, minimize differences, and contribute to EU’s growth.

The willingness to deepen China-EU dialogue is shared across the boundary of EU political parties. Veronique De Keyser, vice-president of the Group of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists & Democrats in the European Parliament, said she was very satisfied with the progress that the forum has achieved, although she expected the forum to go further in the future.

"We share the feeling to work together and find solutions to common challenges," she said.

EU and China has different visions on some concepts, and one of the major concerns is human rights, but this difference is not human rights against non-human rights, but more about practices, she added.

Elmar Brok, chairman of the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the European Parliament, said China has a great impact on the world, and EU shared many common interests with China.

"Understanding is the foundation for cooperation. I look forward to the next meeting scheduled in Beijing," he said.

Graham Watson, president of the European Liberal Democrats and Reform Party (ELDR), said the forum went deeper and broader than before, touching on a wide range of issues, both formally and informally.

Watson will lead a delegation to visit China and further exchange ideas on issues like China’s criminal law reform.