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Tempers flare in Sino-EU safety row

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Mandelson speech angers Wu Yi

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Wrangling between China and the European Union over mainland product safety intensified yesterday, with Vice-Premier Wu Yi publicly rebuking visiting EU Trade Commissioner Peter Mandelson for his criticism of China's safety record.

The heated exchange came just two days ahead of the annual China-EU summit, at the opening of the International High-Level Food Safety Forum in Beijing.

After the opening ceremony of the forum, the 'Iron Lady' stopped Mr Mandelson, who had lashed out at China's food and consumer goods safety, for almost five minutes to voice her displeasure with his speech.

'What you said is true. But you should bring that out in the bilateral talks [instead of a public forum],' an angry Ms Wu told Mr Mandelson before they left the podium.

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In her opening speech for the forum, organised by the central government, Ms Wu reiterated the position that China opposed countries politicising the food safety issue and singling individual countries out for criticism.

In his subsequent speech, Mr Mandelson said China was the place of origin of most substandard products seized by EU authorities last year and the problem was likely to worsen.

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