EU, China Launch High-Level Economic Dialogue

The European Commission and the Chinese government today launched the EU-China High-Level Economic and Trade Dialogue Mechanism in Beijing. Proposed by the Chinese authorities and agreed at last year's EU-China summit, the mechanism aims to ease trade tensions and enhance cooperation.

European Commission President José Manuel Barroso is leading an EU delegation to China of nine European Commissioners. In addition to trade, discussions focus on climate change, food safety and sustainable development.

"Europe, China and the international community can only benefit from intense cooperation between EU and China," said President Barroso at today's joint press conference with Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao. "And indeed, when I consider the global challenges we are confronted with today, none of them is likely to see a constructive solution without strong cooperation between the EU and China."

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