The European Union launched a major diplomatic offensive yesterday, announcing a tougher stance on issues ranging from trade friction to China's human rights and environmental shortcomings.
Two new policy papers, released in Beijing as French President Jacques Chirac arrived on a state visit, spelled out the EU's position ahead of negotiations over a new bilateral Partnership and Co-operation Agreement.
That agreement is due to be signed by the two sides in January, replacing a Trade and Co-operation Agreement signed in 1985.
The policy papers, one on the overall bilateral relationship and one devoted to trade and investment, were the first such high-level pronouncements on China since a 2003 EU policy paper and were designed to set the tone for the forthcoming talks, EU officials said.
'To Europe, we say Europe should accept tough competition from China, and to China, we say China must make it fair competition,' EU ambassador to China Serge Abou said in Beijing.
'I really think we have not done this to warn China because China knows perfectly well where its responsibility lies. It's not a warning or a threat but simply stating the evidence.'
