BBC Monitoring Asia Pacific (May 11, 10:30 AM) Text of joint statement issued by the People's Republic of China and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland in London on 10 May, carried in Chinese by official Chinese news agency Xinhua (New China News Agency)
Joint Statement by China and Great Britain
10 May 2004
His Excellency Wen Jiabao, premier of the State Council of the People's Republic of China, met with His Excellency Tony Blair, prime minister of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, in London on 10 May during Premier Wen's formal visit to the United Kingdom.
Today, Premier Wen Jiabao and Prime Minister Tony Blair expressed welcome for the establishment of a comprehensive strategic partner relationship between China and Great Britain. The two sides pledged to work hard together to develop this partnership, to make it be of benefit to both countries and to promote the building of a more secure, prosperous and open world.
The cooperation between China and Great Britain on bilateral, multilateral and global issues conforms to the interests of both sides. Both sides view the relations between the two countries as one of the focal points of their respective foreign relations. The sustained growth and development of China's economy, and China's ever-increasing status as a global economic power, have enabled the partnership between China and Great Britain to develop rapidly in recent years. Bilateral relations are flourishing in many areas, such as the environment, education, development and science and technology. We are in agreement that cooperation between China and Great Britain has made important progress since our meeting in July 2003. Great Britain will take over the rotating presidency of the European Union in 2005. We look forward to continuing this sort of high-level dialogue in the 2004 and 2005 annual meetings of Chinese and European Union leaders and in the annual meeting of the heads of the two governments which we have already agreed to hold.
Following Prime Minister Blair's visit to China last year, we decided to establish an interactive team on bilateral relations to promote the rapid development of relations between the two countries. This team pools the wisdom of all sectors of society. It has made new proposals in the areas of trade and investment, finance, energy resources, education and culture, science and technology, the environment, to include climate change and sustainable development. We express out thanks to the chairmen of the bilateral team, Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott and State Councillor Tang Jiaxuan, and to the team members, for their work.
The bilateral team's proposals, as well as the ever-increasing cooperation between the two countries on a series of international issues including environmental protection and remediation, energy resources, countering proliferation, countering terrorism and fighting organised crime, embody the breadth and depth of relations between China and Great Britain.
We agree to strengthen cooperation between our two countries in the following bilateral and multilateral areas:
1. Consolidating and strengthening bilateral relations
a. We agree to step up high-level exchange visits. The leaders and foreign ministers of the two countries will conduct exchange visits annually, so as to strengthen and expand bilateral political cooperation in areas such as strategic security and countering proliferation.
b. As proposed by the interactive team on bilateral relations, the two countries agree to strengthen their extensive cooperation in the areas of economics, trade and investment, by way of the China- Great Britain Joint Economic and Trade Committee.
c. Also as proposed by the interactive team on bilateral relations, the two sides will strengthen cooperation in the areas of science, technology, education, culture and environmental protection. During Premier Wen's visit, the two sides have signed a series of memorandums of understanding to promote cooperation in the above areas.
d. We recognise the important role which the "China-UK Forum" plays in bilateral relations. We propose that the forum consult the proposals of the interactive team on bilateral relations and study what role it should play in the areas of industry, financial services, science and technology and the environment in the future.
We have had a friendly and straightforward [Chinese: tancheng] exchange of views on issues regarding Hong Kong. We reiterate that the governments of both countries are working hard together to implement the "China-UK Joint Declaration on the Question of Hong Kong" and we believe that protecting and promoting Hong Kong's prosperity and stability in accordance with the principle of "one country, two systems" and the Basic Law conforms to the interests of both sides. We agree to continue to exchange views on these issues.
Great Britain reiterates its consistent stand on the issue of Taiwan from the 1972 Joint Communique on the Exchange of Ambassadors Between China and the United Kingdom; specifically, Great Britain acknowledges the Chinese government's position that Taiwan is a province of China, and it acknowledges that the government of the People's Republic of China is the only legitimate government of China.
We value highly the dialogue between China and Great Britain on human rights and we will continue this exchange on a foundation of equality and mutual respect. Both sides are in agreement that all countries must respect and protect human rights. The British side welcomes the Chinese side's recent inclusion of respect and protection of human rights in the Chinese constitution. The next round of China-UK dialogue on human rights will take place in May 2004. This will provide an excellent opportunity for the two countries to develop specific cooperation in the area of human rights.
2. Consolidating and strengthening cooperation within multilateral frameworks between the two countries on issues of bilateral and international concern
The two countries will strengthen their coordination at the United Nations, promote reform of the United Nations, enable it to meet the challenges of the 21st century and ensure added respect for the United Nations Charter and international law. The two sides will expand their cooperation within the United Nations framework for the preservation of peace. China is willing to step up consultation with Great Britain on issues concerning the Middle East and Iraq.
We reiterate our resolve to fight terrorism. The governments of the two countries will initiate a mechanism for China-UK anti- terrorism dialogue, and strengthen exchanges and cooperation in countering terrorism.
We reiterate our resolve regarding non-proliferation. Great Britain welcomes the pledges China has made and the actions it has taken regarding the issue of non-proliferation. Great Britain especially welcomes the measures China has taken to strengthen its relations with the non-proliferation and export control mechanism. China commends Great Britain for its hard work within the International Atomic Energy Agency framework to promote an agreement to ensure and supervise Iran's implementation of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, and in persuading Libya to abandon its weapons of mass destruction programme. Great Britain welcomes the leadership role China is playing in the six-party talks on the North Korean nuclear issue. China and Great Britain will strengthen their exchanges and cooperation in the areas of security, arms control, disarmament and non-proliferation.
We reiterate that we will cooperate in fighting illegal immigration. The governments of the two countries have signed a "Memorandum of Understanding on Facilitating the Legal Movement of People and on Fighting Illegal Immigration". The two sides have decided on close cooperation in police matters and they agree to strengthen the exchange of information and cooperation in law enforcement in accordance with the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organised Crime and other international legal documents and to cooperate in the fight against transnational crime.
Both sides have high regard for the positive achievements of the Asia-Europe Meeting in promoting an equal partner relationship between Asia and Europe. Both sides express their willingness to strengthen further their cooperation in the Asia-Europe Meeting.
3. China and Great Britain pledge to step up their cooperation on international economic issues and promote sustainable development
The two sides will work hard together to achieve the "United Nations Millennium Development Goals", to include the eradication of extreme poverty, hunger, disease, environmental degradation, illiteracy and discrimination against women. By way of the Commission on Sustainable Development, each level is to fulfil the pledges made at the United Nations World Summit on Sustainable Development.
Both sides will work hard on the liberalisation of international trade, and they will continue to promote discussion of the Doha Development Agenda. The two sides both agree that the key to whether or not development goals can be achieved is whether or not the "Doha round" negotiations are a success. The two sides agree that conclusion of the "Doha round" at an early date and obtaining a balanced outcome is in the interests of all members of the World Trade Organization. Both sides will work hard in negotiations towards achieving a framework agreement in 2004. China and Great Britain will continue their dialogue on this matter.
Both sides understand the importance of effective protection of intellectual property rights, as well as the important role which the protection of intellectual property rights plays in promoting foreign investment and creating a good commercial environment. The two sides agree to strengthen bilateral cooperation on the protection of intellectual property rights. China will abide by the pledges it makes in acceding to international treaties and agreements on intellectual property rights, and China will protect in accordance with its domestic law the rights and interests of the holders of international property rights.
China and Great Britain reiterate their support for the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and they encourage all parties which have not ratified the Kyoto Protocol to do so as soon as possible. The two sides also encourage all countries to make the most effective use of energy resources. The two sides call on all signatories to Annex I of the convention to take the lead and act in unison, reduce the emission of greenhouse gases and achieve the convention's designated goals.
China and Great Britain recognise the importance of the provisions stressed by Principle 10 of the Rio Declaration on Environment and Development, such as open information, public participation in decision making and fair legal action on environmental problems.
The two sides agree to share experiences in aspects of science and economics, so as to help both sides work hard together to achieve low-carbon economies and sustainable development, and, through "a partnership of renewable sources of energy and effective use of energy", accelerate the development of a global economy with technology which benefits the climate.
The two sides reiterate their willingness to step up exchanges on measures taken concerning environmental issues including climate change, sustainable management of natural resources, law enforcement regarding forests (stopping illegal cutting), protection of water resources, improving air quality and controlling pollution, and to study what each other has done regarding environmental legislation and monitoring and personnel development.
The two sides will work hard together to assist developing countries in resolving poverty and other development-related problems, and to cope better with the challenges of globalisation. Both sides place special emphasis on peace and security, on preventing and treating AIDS in Africa and on the issue of achieving sustainable development. Both sides will exert all possible effort to support the hard work which African countries are doing to achieve the "Millennium Development Goals".
