EU's Patten hails China ties, calls for candor in dealing with differences

Apr 4, 2002

By Christopher Bodeen,

BEIJING - Relations between China and Europe are in full flower, yet both sides must commit to candidly discussing any remaining differences � especially human rights and trade practices, the European Union (news - web sites)'s commissioner for external relations said Thursday.

 Wrapping up a weeklong visit to China, Chris Patten said he agreed with Chinese President Jiang Zemin (news - web sites) that China and Europe were enjoying their best ties ever. "I do think our relations are both very good and increasingly comprehensive, and increasingly deep," Patten said.

Jiang's affirmation of ties came in a meeting between the men Wednesday. That followed a signing ceremony in which the EU pledged millions of dollars to work with China on education and development of clean energy.

Patten hailed those exchanges at a pre-departure news briefing, saying thriving trade and European investment in China have been joined by an "almost exponential increase" in science and technology cooperation.

But he said the EU continued to be concerned about China's human rights policies, the way it rules Tibet and its frequent use of the death penalty. Such differences, Patten said, should be discussed openly and with respect.

"It is deeply unfair to China to pretend that we have a relationship in which there are no snags," he said.

The commissioner said he raised human rights concerns in talks with top foreign policy adviser Qian Qichen, who responded with standard defenses of Chinese policies.

The EU has been conducting a quiet dialogue on human rights with China � in marked contrast to the United States' more confrontational approach. Patten indicated that approach would continue but said such discussions could become more public and direct if results weren't forthcoming.

He defended an EU import ban on Chinese animal products sparked by concerns over high levels of a dangerous antibiotic, saying independent scientific tests had raised "legitimate scientific concerns and anxieties."

Chinese officials had objected to the ban, but Patten said it was "essential for consumer safety and consumer confidence in Europe."

But Patten said he found common ground with the officials in condemning protective U.S. tariffs on steel imports of 8 percent to 30 percent affecting both Chinese and European exports. Washington's "profoundly misguided decision" undercut American legitimacy in promoting open markets, he said.

As the last British colonial governor of Hong Kong, Patten was labeled a "sinner of 1,000 years" and a "turtle egg" � a Chinese insult � by Chinese officials for his attempts to introduce more democracy in the territory.

Past animosities, though, seem just that � past. While calling the Chinese insults "certainly colorful," Patten quipped that he had forgotten them all "in the interests of generosity of spirit."

In a speech earlier Thursday at the Communist Party's national research and training school, Patten said China-Europe ties shouldn't be overwhelmed by Beijing's strategic relationship with United States.

China-U.S. ties and Europe's own relations with Washington "should not belittle the value of our relationship with each other," Patten said.