Over the last decades, China has reoriented its economic policies and has become an important economic country due to its rapid internal transformation which has created a link between a central-planned economy and active global trade implication.
Moreover, its accession to the World Trade Organisation has accelerated the process and has made China a strong country with increasing implication in international business from environment problems to safety and trade liberalization worldwide. This is the reason why EU has also changed its relationships with China to regulate the vision of the European continent. EU’s main objective for China is to get the position it deserves in conformity with its geostrategic international importance, politically and economically. Therefore, EU supports the economic and social reform process in China. The EU policy for China focuses on consolidating political dialogue, granting assistance in the transition of this country towards an open society, encouraging integration into the global economy and increasing EU’s presence in China.
The EU-China Summit was held at the end of November and represented an opportunity for launching new initiatives over the next decade and for setting a cooperation agenda for 2020. The debated topics from urban planning, energy, transport infrastructure, to social protection, underlined the importance of bilateral cooperation and consolidation of relationships.
Urbanisation is a part of an on-going process to find a proper balance between the need to protect the environment and natural resources and a legitimate interest in securing economic growth. In this sense although urbanisation in Europe and in China are at different stages, we share the same challenge of sustainable development”, declared President of the European Council Herman van Rompuy.
For sustainable development, the transport system is a reference point and EU and China collaborate to develop urban mobility. To improve urban mobility, by increasing accessibility and attractiveness, is a major challenge for the two parties: Europe is believed to have improved experience and excellent technology in developing an efficient urban mobility and China, whose cities expand rapidly, is the largest market for the delivery of mobility solutions and services.
“Cities will be the drivers of economic growth, but there is a risk that the quality of life in cities deteriorates making them unattractive, inefficient and socially divisive. Together Europe and China can lead the way towards sustainable urbanisation and create a win-win situation for our citizens, business and the environment”, declared SiimKallas, European Commissioner for Transport.
Improving urban mobility to increase the accessibility and attractiveness of urban regions is the major challenge of cities and China and the EU will jointly identify solutions to pollution, congestion, safety and energy demand problems.
Over the last years, European and Chinese experts have worked to prepare recommendations on urban mobility policies, their purpose being to support the State Council of China to establish a set of measures for China’s urban mobility. In this context, the European Commission and the Chinese government have agreed to concentrate cooperation on segments of operations and management of public transport, congestion management, sustainable mobility planning and safety.
“The EU and China share an interest in finding those integrated solutions. We share an interest in reinforcing dialogue on sustainable urban development because both the EU and China want to spread the benefits of economic progress. And though our cities are very diverse, European and Chinese urban areas are developing expertise and solutions that make them models for others, in smart, sustainable and inclusive growth”, declared Johannes Hahn, Commissioner for Regional Policy.
[ by Pamela Luică ]Share on:
