EC/China relations: implementing the 1998 communication, measures to strenghten the Community policy

The European Parliament adopted a resolution on China drafted by Vasco GRACA MOURA (EPP-ED, Portugal). (Please refer to the document dated 26/02/02.) Parliament pointed out that, whilst WTO accession marks a major development with China's relations with the rest of the world, the next few years will test the regime's capacity to adapt to a changing world on its own doorstep. Economic porgress can only succeed in tandem with social and political progress. China must show that it is able to deal with the social and labour problems that will arise as a result of WTO accession. In the longer term, the US, the EU, Japan and other industrialised countries, working together with China, will have to develop programmes in the rural and disadvantaged areas, outside the booming cities, to combat increasing inequalities and create educational opportunities for the majority of the Chinese population who live there. China's potential rests with a vast territory and a population where only the inhabitants of the richest areas located along the coast form a market, both characteristics of a continental economy driven by internal demand. There is, accordingly, a need for China to build up efficient internal cohesion policies. On Taiwan, Parliament felt that the participation of the latter in ASEM could be a step forward as to the resumption of a genuine dialogue between Beijing and Taipei with a view to developing cross-Straits relations. On Tibet, members share the concern of the Dalai Lama on the systematic destruction of the Tibetan environment, traditions, culture and religion, at the worsening political situation of the Tibetan people and the deteriorating human rights situation. China should halt the controversial plan of large-scale immigration to Tibet with regard particularly to the 20000 people who are due to move to the Dulan region of Quinghai province. Negotiations without preconditions should be resumed with the Dalai Lama with a view to defining a statute of full autonomy for Tibet, with the only exceptions being foreign and defence policy.�