EU under Cyprus Presidency to enhance coop with China

(Ecns.cn) -- The European Union (EU) under Cyprus Presidency will continue to cooperate with China in various ways that benefit both development and the resolution of shared existing problems, according to Ambassador Markus Ederer at the Thursday press conference held by the EU Delegation to China on the coming bilateral strategic talk and the shift of EU presidency to Cyprus.

Amb. Ederer, leader of the delegation, asserted that the significant interdependence between China and the EU will be further strengthened during this term, especially in the fields of education, trade, new energy, infrastructure construction, outer space exploration and telecommunications, with specific plans to be brought to the table at the 15th high-end summit in autumn, as well as the issue of urbanization to be communicated on the first mayor-level dialogue also to come soon.

Of top concern is the carbon tax levied by the EU on the global aviation industry; it remains at mid-level negotiations in the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and is therefore off the coming dialogue table until it hits the agenda of the autumn summit. Four multilateral solutions have already been proposed for discussion at the ICAO.

Amb. Ederer reiterated that the EU implements a tax exemption policy on countries with "equivalent measures" that cater to the Greenhouse Gas Emissions Trading System (EU ETS), on which EU experts are working with China to "figure out a way."

The official also admitted that the EU respects China's environmental considerations with regard to the rare earth trade dispute and sticks to the WTO framework to seek a settlement for bilateral interests, adding that the EU anticipates the deeper unfolding of China's service industries, such as the banking and travel sectors.

Cyprus Ambassador Ioanna Malliotis briefed the attendees on the half-year presidency plan as well as the prospect of having China bailout her home country. Its real economy has been affected by the Greek crisis yet the banking sector still "very manageable."