EU-China retry summit

The European Union and China will try to reestablish firm relations at a summit this Wednesday — being held in place of one which Beijing cancelled in December. The Chinese pulled out of that one to show their displeasure over French President Nicolas Sarkozy’s friendly meeting with Tibetan spritual leader the Dalai Lama.

They are warning that honouring him anew would provoke strong indignation among their people. (The Dalai Lama has invitations to France, Denmark and the Netherlands in the coming weeks.)

This summet in Prague is intended to concentrate on economic priorities. The EU still considers China as an economy in transition. Beijing said it will raise questions about market economy recognition and European limitations on high technology exports to China. It also wants EU anti-dumping measures on shoes lifted.

Meanwhile, the current Czech EU presidency is being urged to include human rights at the summit — by the European Greens, Amnesty International and former Czech President Vaclav Havel.

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tags: China, EU-China, European Union