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'Members only' no way to play, says ambassador

Updated: 2011-04-23 07:23

By Fu Jing (China Daily)

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BRUGES, Belgium - The world's major players should cooperate with the rest of the globe to shape an inclusive international order instead of an exclusive club, said China's ambassador to the European Union.

"China, Europe and the United States are major players in world affairs, but we are not a members-only club," Song Zhe told a high-level seminar on relations between the three major players on Friday.

"We don't come together to rival against or challenge anyone. We join hands because that works best for everyone's interest globally," Song said during the two-day seminar organized by the College of Europe.

'Members only' no way to play, says ambassador

 

Song also urged the major players to accommodate the concerns of other countries, particularly small- and medium-sized ones.

His remarks come as Western powers are involved in military action in Libya despite opposition from emerging economies. The US and EU have also differed with developing countries on climate change, global financial governance and other issues.

In spite of their differences, Viorel Isticioaia-Budura, Asian affairs managing director of the European External Action Service, said that China, the US and EU should work toward a rule-based international order.

Isticioaia-Budura said the EU and the US have already redefined their traditional partnership and have also acknowledged the importance of China in reshaping the global order, especially in the aftermath of the financial crisis.

"The cooperation among the three should transcend the bilateral relations," said Isticioaia-Budura.

The senior EU diplomat, once Romania's ambassador to China, said the EU and China have already started coordination and cooperation beyond bilateral affairs.

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He told China Daily that upcoming leaders' meetings will boost trust and cooperation between the two sides and facilitate their coordination at the global level.

In the first half of May, State Councilor Dai Bingguo will meet in Europe with his EU counterpart Catherine Ashton for their second strategic dialogue. They held the first in China last September.

In the second half of May, European Council President Herman Van Rompuy will visit China.

At the end of this year, the 14th China-EU summit will be held in China. Meanwhile, Chinese President Hu Jintao will attend the G20 summit in France in November.

"What is happening suggests that we can very well outperform ourselves this year and lift China-EU ties to a new height," said Song, adding that the momentum of China-US relations is sound.

But Song admitted: "The road ahead is promising but certainly not trouble free."

Song urged the EU and US to dispose of "static, narrow-minded and biased views" when looking at China's development. He said China's development will benefit Europe and the US and a stronger China will contribute to more balanced and democratic international politics.

"Only by recognizing this point can you develop an objective and fair perception of China and view its progress with an open and friendly mind," said Song.

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