9月16日早间英文播报：China, EU to boost strategic partnership

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Chinese President Xi Jinping co-hosts aChina-Germany-EU leaders' meeting in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 14, 2020,via video link with German Chancellor Angela Merkel, whose country currentlyholds the EU's rotating presidency, European Council President Charles Micheland European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.[Photo/Xinhua]

Xisays both sides must pursue healthy, steady growth of their relationship

China and the European Union reaffirmedtheir goal of concluding talks on the bilateral investment agreement before year'send and agreed to bolster cooperation on green development and the digitalsector during a leaders' meeting on Monday.

The meeting, held via video link, wasco-chaired by President Xi Jinping, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, whosecountry currently holds the EU's rotating presidency, European CouncilPresident Charles Michel and European Commission President Ursula von derLeyen.

The two sides agreed to accelerate talks onthe investment agreement. Negotiating teams have had 31 rounds of talks on theagreement since negotiations were launched in 2014.

China and the EU will establish ahigh-level dialogue on the environment and climate and work together in thedigital sector to build green and digital cooperative partnerships, accordingto a decision at the meeting.

In his remarks at the meeting, Xiunderlined the need for the two sides to unwaveringly pursue the healthy andsteady growth of the China-EU comprehensive strategic partnership whileadhering to the principles of peaceful coexistence, openness and cooperation,multilateralism as well as dialogue and consultation.

The COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated theprofound changes unseen in a century, and mankind is standing at a newcrossroads, he said.

China and the EU, as important trading andinvestment partners, should enhance the coordination of macro policies and comeup with more measures to unleash more cooperative opportunities, Xi said.

With China proposing a global data securityinitiative, Xi said it is his hope that the EU will work with China to promotethe creation of standards and rules on the governance of the global digitaleconomy.

He said China has been closely followingthe recent moves made by the EU in the areas of 5G, examination of foreigninvestment, government procurement and competition policies, and he hopes theEU will maintain the openness of its trade and investment markets and create anopen, fair and nondiscriminatory business environment to ensure the legitimateinterests of Chinese firms.

Xi underlined the importance of enhancedbilateral cooperation on the research and development of COVID-19 vaccines andmaking them global public goods that are beneficial and available for all,especially people in developing countries.

He also stressed that the issues involvingthe Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and the Xinjiang Uygur autonomousregion are in essence matters regarding the defense of China's nationalsovereignty, security and unity and the protection of rights for the people tolive safe and happy lives.

Beijing will resolutely oppose anyindividual or forces trying to instigate instability, division or chaos in thecountry, and firmly object to the intervention in China's internal affairs byany country, he added. As for human rights, China will not accept lectures fromother countries and will object to the practice of double standards, he said.

The leaders also announced the signing of abilateral agreement on geographical indications on food products. The agreementwas hailed by the council of the EU as "the first significant bilateraltrade agreement signed between the EU and China".

It will ensure that 100 EU agrifoodgeographical indications such as Mozzarella di Bufala Campana cheese or EliaKalamatas olives get protection on the Chinese market. Likewise, 100 Chineseproducts will be protected in the EU, thereby ensuring mutual recognition ofagricultural traditions, the council said in a statement in July.

China's trade volume with the EU reached$705.1 billion last year, which increased by 3.4 percent from the previousyear. China is the EU's biggest source of imports and its second-biggest exportmarket. In 2019, China was the third-largest partner for EU exports of goodsand the largest partner for EU imports of goods.

The EU had been China's largest tradingpartner for 16 consecutive years as of 2019. However, the bloc's position asChina's largest trading partner has been taken by the Association of SoutheastAsian Nations in the first half of this year, according to the Ministry of Commerce.

Find more audio news on the China Dailyapp.

记者：徐伟

播报：OwenFishwick

原文链接：

https://www.chinadaily.com.cn/a/202009/15/WS5f5ff5f8a3101ccd0bee04e7.html