Ekaterina Zaharieva: The EU should persevere with the efforts for signing an investment agreement with China
29 May 2020 News
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Ekaterina Zaharieva highlighted China’s importance as a strategic partner to the EU and also as an economic competitor. She called for the setting of clear and attainable goals in the cooperation with China, as well as for equal access for European goods and companies to the domestic market.
“We should set realistic goals for ourselves and pursue concrete results in concrete spheres. We should firstly continue with the efforts to sign an investment agreement with China,” Ekaterina Zaharieva said at today’s Foreign Affairs Council video conference.
The leading topic on its agenda was the development of relations between the EU and China and the preparations for the EU-China summit by video conference at the end of June 2020.
The political dialogue at the highest level and the active trade and economic ties between the EU and China are demonstrating the importance of this partnership for both sides.
The trade exchange between the EU and China in 2019 amounted to 644.4 billion euros, which ranked the country second after the United States among the EU’s trade partners. The Ministers highlighted the importance of achieving progress in the negotiations on a EU-China Comprehensive Agreement on Investment, which should facilitate the European companies’ access to the Chinese market.
Ekaterina Zaharieva focused on the importance of cooperation with Beijing in the protection of the environment and the reforms of the international multilateral system.
The top EU diplomats also discussed relations with China in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. The EU sent more than 50 tons of protective clothing and equipment to China in January 2020. Beijing reciprocated in March 2020 when the EU became the epicenter of the contagion. The importance of the objective coverage of the EU contribution to the fight against the pandemic was duly asserted.
Our Foreign Minister noted during the meeting that the Coronavirus pandemic has demonstrated that the EU is dependent on third countries for strategic production of goods, such as protective medical clothing and equipment. “We should consider the setting up of more resilient supply chains with non-European partners and the return of certain businesses to Europe,” Ekaterina Zaharieva said.
The Ministers adopted a declaration at the Foreign Affairs Council, voicing grave concern over the measures adopted by China in respect of Hong Kong that threaten to undermine the autonomy of the special administrative region.
Also discussed were the socio-economic and geopolitical consequences of COVID-19 for the Asia-Pacific region. The Asian countries will receive assistance in the amount of 1.22 billion euros for fighting the pandemic under the EU’s Team Europe initiative.
The Ministers adopted Conclusions on Afghanistan expressing support for the country’s peace process.
More photos
