China-EU officials discuss economy, human rights

Officials from the European Union and China met in Chengdu, Sichuan province, on Monday and Tuesday to discuss a range of issues relating to China-EU investment relations and human rights issues.

Delegates from the China Economic and Social Council met with their counterparts from the European Economic and Social Committee for the 13th meeting of the China-EU Round Table.

The event, which has been held twice each year since 2007, is a forum for the discussion of economic and social issues of concern to both parties.

Feng Guoqin, vice-chairman of the CESC, and Hans-Joachim Wilms, vice-president of the EESC, jointly presided over the opening session and delivered speeches.

More than 40 representatives from both sides participated in the round table, expressing their views on China-EU investment relations and human rights issues.

The two sides agreed that, as the global economy continues to recover slowly, China and the EU should vigorously promote two-way investment and encourage trade and investment liberalization, while opposing all forms of protectionism and maintaining an open trade and investment environment.

They agreed that promoting human rights in the world depends on candid exchanges of ideas and positions pertaining to human rights and holding discussions on the basis of equality and mutual respect.

The round table adopted a joint statement.

On Tuesday afternoon, the CESC and EESC delegations and the Sichuan Provincial Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference held a trilateral workshop on sustainable tourism, in which participants shared their practices and experiences.