1st LD Writethru: Chinese premier urges EU to drop Surrogate Country approach on schedule

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang on Saturday called on the European Union to fulfill its obligation to drop the Surrogate Country approach used in its anti-dumping measures against Chinese exports.

China hopes the EU would act in accordance with Article 15 of the Protocol on the Accession of China to the World Trade Organization (WTO), Li said while meeting with German Chancellor Angela Merkel on the sidelines of the 11th Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) Summit Saturday in Ulan Bator.

"China and the EU are each other's major trade partners. Article 15 is a matter of confidence for firms and the market in the rule of law, international rules and the China-EU trade relations," he said.

"It is hoped that the German side could help solve the issue in an active manner," Li said.

In accordance with Article 15 of the accession protocol signed when China joined the WTO in 2001, the Surrogate Country approach expires on December 11, 2016.

There are voices in Europe, however, that China has yet to meet the standard set by the EU for market economy status, and that the EU should continue with its use of a non-standard approach in anti-dumping investigations against China.

On China-Germany ties, Li said, China is willing to work together with Germany to ensure the implementation of the agreements reached last month between the two nations in the fourth round of intergovernmental consultation.

China stands ready to enhance coordination with Germany over international and regional affairs, and jointly push forward bilateral ties and cooperation, the premier said.

On the shocking attack in Nice, France and the British exit from the EU, which dealt a blow to global financial stability, Li said that these issues indicated that the Eurasia continent is faced with quite a few problems and challenges.

"China is opposed to terrorism in any form," he said. "China firmly supports the EU and the European integration and holds that a stable and prosperous Europe serves the interests of all parties."

China hoped that the EU-Britain relations will have a smooth transition and believed that the EU will continue to develop, Li said, adding that China is willing to strengthen cooperation with the EU members including Germany to jointly tackle challenges and safeguard regional and world peace and prosperity.

Merkel, for her part, said her frequent meetings with Li testified to the intimacy in the Germany-China ties. And Germany is willing to keep contact with China over the latest development in Europe.

Merkel urged the international community to properly deal with the fallout of British exit from the EU and to work together in fight against terrorism.

China is a trustworthy and reliable partner, and Germany is pleased to see the EU to cooperate with China in a more sensible and practical manner, she added. Endi