Joint Statement
Fifth Meeting of the China-EU Round Table
Tianjin, 19 May 2009
1.
The China-EU Round Table held its fifth meeting in Tianjin, China from 18 to 19 May 2009.
2.
The Round Table was co-established by the China Economic and Social Council (CESC) and
the EU Economic and Social Committee (EESC) in accordance with the Joint Statement of
the 9th China-EU Summit released in Helsinki on 9 September 2006.
3.
The results achieved at the past Round Table meetings as well as the pertinent
recommendations jointly made by both sides have been appreciated by the leaders in the Joint
Statements of the China-EU Summits. They are convinced that the role of organised civil
society is important and that its voice must be heard in developing the China-EU relationship
and in the ongoing dialogues.
4.
The fifth meeting of the China-EU Round Table was co-chaired by Mr Gang Wang,
Chairman of the CESC and Mr Mario Sepi, President of the EESC.
5.
During the meeting, delegates from both sides held extensive discussions on the themes
"Recycling Industries" and "Economic and social rights in China and in the EU". They
exchanged views in an atmosphere of equality, frankness and friendship.
6.
The Round Table expressed grave concerns over the current financial crisis and its negative
impact on the people in the EU and in China. A tripartite workshop on combating the
financial crisis was held in Tianjin, with the participation of members of the CESC
delegation, EESC delegation and the Tianjin Economic and Social Council. The organisation
of this workshop demonstrates the need to involve civil society in the reflection on the current
crisis and in the definition and implementation of the measures to be taken.
7.
On recycling Industries
7.1
The Round Table agrees that the huge amount of waste produced constitutes a major
challenge to both developing and developed countries and is convinced that waste should be
seen as both a source of pollution and a source of value in recycling. In particular, the Round
Table stresses the potential negative consequences of waste on public health.
7.2
The Round Table acknowledges the urgency with which the problems posed, especially by
the rapid increase of hazardous waste and electronic waste, must be tackled. In addition, there
.../...
EN
- 2 -
is a strong need to find integrated cross-sector solutions to these problems based on the
principle of "reducing, reusing and recycling resources".
7.3
The Round Table recognizes the progress made in legislation and the management of waste
treatment both in China and the EU and urges more efforts be made for effective and genuine
implementation of the relevant regulations and directives at the level of municipal
governments and individual businesses in particular.
7.4
The Round Table reiterates its request to see full involvement of civil society organisations in
waste management policies as the key to success of those policies, especially in raising public
awareness and the sense of responsible ownership.
7.5
The Round Table acknowledges the willingness from both sides to have more bilateral
exchanges and cooperation initiatives to promote recycling industries, and the delegates are
satisfied with the fruitful dialogue to date in this area.
7.6
The Round Table takes note of the existing framework of the EU-China cooperation and
insists on its importance, in particular in the development of technology transfer, exchange of
good practices and technical expertise.
7.7
The Round Table asks the authorities to encourage a joint platform for scientific and technical
cooperation between researchers of both regions to develop circular industry programmes.
7.8
The Round Table supports cooperations and exchanges of good practices between civil
society organisations of China and of Europe and recommends that pilot projects in this field
should be supported.
7.9
The Round Table decides to continue its reporting on issues related to sustainable
development and to discuss the topic of sustainable urban development in the next tripartite
meeting in Stockholm with the Swedish Presidency of the EU.
7.10
The Round Table urges Chinese SMEs, industrial associations and other civil society
organizations to work closely with their counterparts in the EU to set up SWITCH
Programmes in China, focusing on electric waste collection, recycling and hazardous waste
management, which are increasingly drawing concerns from relevant authorities and civil
society at large.
7.11
The Round Table encourages the proposal that relevant authorities and co-partners from
China and the EU establish a demonstration park in the field of waste management and
recycling industry, preferably in Tianjin, considering the ongoing endeavours and initiatives
the Tianjin municipal government have taken in building up a resource-saving and eco-
.../...
- 3 -
friendly city in China. This can set an example for eco-cooperation between China and the
EU in the area of maintaining sustainable development and combating climate change.
8.
On Economic and social rights in China and the EU
8.1
The Round Table pursues the shared goal of building a harmonious society and a peaceful
world with full acknowledgement of the challenges brought by globalisation, the need for
greater progress in social welfare, and the commitment to realize the MDGs. In this context,
the respect and promotion of economic and social rights play a central role. China and the EU
Member States have ratified the main international instrument related to the respect of these
rights, and in particular the UN Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural rights (1966 –
ICESCR). The Round Table calls for ratification of the other relevant international
instruments.
8.2
The Round Table takes note of the recent adoption of the optional protocol to the UN
Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, and welcomes all efforts to improve the
implementation of the ICESCR.
8.3
The Round Table also recommends that both China and the EU need further improvement in
policy-making, which should bring more benefits to disadvantaged regions and social groups.
8.4
The Round Table notes with satisfaction that, in April 2009, China has adopted a first action
plan on human rights for 2009/2010 which includes economic and social rights.
8.5
The Round Table recommends that children’s rights must be given special consideration and
welcomes China's huge efforts to achieve universal education. It considers education as the
central pillar to harmonious development and social progress. The Round Table calls for a
reinforcement of efforts to fight child labour in Europe and in China.
8.6
The Round Table members recall that, to a very great extend, social partners pursue shared
goals of harmonious industrial relations and sustainable employment which can be maintained
through social consultation and dialogue on equal basis. The Round Table recognises that
freedom of association and collective bargaining provided for in both ICESCR and ILO create
a framework for conflict prevention and resolution. The Round Table also shares the views
that the social consequences of the present crisis further increase the challenge of balancing
interests between all parties and the importance of having conflict-prevention and conflict-
resolution mechanisms.
8.7
The Round Table calls for more substantial cooperation between China and the EU at
bilateral and multilateral level in overcoming the difficulties posed by the current economic
crisis, in particular in helping people escape poverty and in fulfilling the MDG commitments
.../...
- 4 -
and other obligations required by the United Nations and other legally binding international
agreements.
8.8
The Round table calls for support to stronger cooperation between civil society in China and
in the EU for better implementation of economic and social rights. It proposes that an
exchange of good practices and training should be organised between Chinese and European
social partners so as to take advantage of all positive experiences to implement ILO
Conventions in the national context.
8.9
The Round Table calls on the European Commission and the Chinese authorities to involve
its members in the dialogues and projects they are undertaking or supporting in the field of
economic and social rights.
8.10
The Round Table welcomes the joint EU-China agreement reached in January 2009 on
cooperation in the field of health and safety at work and calls for support to joint civil society
initiatives in this area.
8.11
The Round Table agrees that the dialogue on the rights-related issues should be continued
with the aim of increasing mutual understanding and promoting people's social and economic
rights.
8.12
Both sides agree that the sixth meeting of the EU-China Round Table will focus on the two
issues: "Economic and Social Rights in China and the EU" and "Water Resources and
Sustainable Development".
8.13
The present Joint Statement shall be submitted to upcoming EU-China Summit. Both sides
agree that the sixth meeting of the China-EU Round Table shall take place in Stockholm on
26/28 October 2009.
Tianjin, 19 May 2009.
Mario Sepi
Zhao Qizheng
President
Vice Chairman
European Economic and Social Committee
China Economic and Social Council