EU rolls out strategy on ties with China for next five years

The High Representative of the European Union (EU) for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and the European Commission on Wednesday adopted a Joint Communication which maps out the EU's relationship with China for the next five years.

The Joint Communication identifies major opportunities for the EU's relationship with China, in particular with the aim of creating jobs and growth in Europe as well as vigorously promoting a greater opening up of the Chinese market to European business, thus contributing to the first priority of President Jean-Claude Juncker's Commission.

The High Representative Federica Mogherini said that "the EU and China already cooperate on so much: we work together on the global and political issues of our times, such as Iran, Syria, Afghanistan, migration and climate change. But we can and must do more to connect the EU and China."

"Our citizens, industries, and organizations can all benefit from a closer, improved, and better-defined EU-China relationship based on shared responsibility. The Joint Communication that we have adopted today will, I am sure, enable our relationship to fulfill its clear potential," she said. Endit