Voorbereidingen top EU-China door Hongaars voorzitterschap (en)

The Hungarian Presidency is also greatly honoured that the sixth round of the strategic dialogue between the EU and the People’s Republic of China is held in Gödöllo on 12 May. The dialogue in Hungary is an important stage of preparations for the EU-China summit to be held in the second half of the year.

In the meeting in Gödöllo, the European Union is represented by High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Catherine Ashton i, and the People’s Republic of China by State Councillor and Chief Advisor to the President of China Dai Bingguo.

In addition to bilateral relations, major international and regional issues are also expected to appear on the agenda of the meeting. Agenda items include global economic trends, the development of trade relations, climate change and human rights. The High Representative and the highest ranking official for foreign affairs of the People’s Republic of China will also discuss possible effects of the events in North Africa and the Arab World to the relationship between the two regions. The discussions will be followed by a press conference.

Prior to the meeting, the High Representative said that the EU-China strategic dialogue was already more than a set of simple bilateral relations, and its purpose was to ensure cooperation between the two regions on matters of global importance.

President Pál Schmitt and Prime Minister Viktor Orbán i will meet the Chinese State Councillor on 13 May. The talks of Dai Bingguo with the Hungarian leaders can be considered as the continuation of the series of talks started with the Prime Ministers’meeting in Shanghai in October 2010.