“It is with great pleasure that I would like to congratulate the European Chamber on its official recognition. The Chamber has done a great job in bringing together EU business in China. It can now give a voice to European business right here in the China market.”
Pascal Lamy, EU Trade Commissioner, 23rd October 2000, at the Second EU-China Business Dialogue in Beijing
In October 2000, when China was on the threshold of joining the World Trade Organization (WTO), EU Trade Commissioner Pascal Lamy visited Beijing to attend the EU-China Summit and discuss with then Chinese Premier Zhu Rongji and Minister for Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation Shi Guangsheng the remaining bilateral obstacles standing in the way of China’s WTO accession.
During his visit, Commissioner Lamy addressed the Second EU-China Business Dialogue. He talked about the importance and potential impact of WTO accession for China, European businesses and the WTO itself. He explained that the main challenge in making China’s accession ambitions a reality was to ensure that real gains and implementation of WTO obligations would result. He stressed that the European Commission’s top priorities should be providing technical assistance to China and following up on the country’s adherence to WTO obligations. He called for the help of European companies, emphasising the need to forge strong relationships for this new era, especially in the business world. Commissioner Lamy said
“In concrete terms, this means the European Union Chamber of Commerce in China and the EU-China Business Dialogue. Both have their own role to play and both can contribute constructively and positively to even stronger relations between the EU and China.”
Commissioner Lamy concluded
“We in the Commission, look at our future relations with China in a spirit of great optimism and hope for the future. I am convinced that the geopolitical shifts in the century ahead will see China playing an increasingly pivotal global role. So, I know that it is worth investing heavily in building a good relationship with China. I hope that you, as businesspeople, will be convinced of the same. For I also believe that in the coming century, it will be businesspeople like yourselves who will do more than politicians like me to effect change in China. On a different note, it is with great pleasure that I would like to congratulate the European Chamber on its official recognition. The Chamber has done a great job in bringing together EU business in China. It can now give a voice to European business right here in the China market. This can help European business interests. It can also be useful to the Chinese authorities as they construct the framework and institutions to sustain a market economy. The Chamber has also played an important role for me in my negotiations on China’s WTO accession. I have listened very carefully to the views of EU businesses in China.”
Pascal Lamy, EU Trade Commissioner, 23rd October 2000, at the Second EU-China Business Dialogue in Beijing
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