3/11/2006
Danuta Hübner Agrees Regional Cooperation Policy with Chinese National Development and Reform Commission

Regional policy Commissioner Danuta Hübner met Chinese First Vice-Minister Du Ying from the National Development and Reform Commission in Brussels this week  to take forward the EU-China Regional policy dialogue launched last May in Beijing.

Both parties agreed to strengthen bilateral co-operation and on the exchange of information on policies contributing to growth, competitiveness and employment.

Three main actions were agreed for further cooperation in 2007: a high level seminar in Brussels to associate most relevant Chinese and EU stakeholders in the field of regional policy; a comprehensive study on definition of Chinese regions, regional statistics and multi-level governance and partnership mechanisms and the promotion of exchange of officials.

“Today we agreed on concrete ways for further cooperation in two fields crucial for both sides: multi-level governance and partnership and definition of regions and regional statistics”, said Commissioner Hübner after the meeting with Minister Du Ying and added: “The dialogue will help both parties in our common challenge of promoting balanced regional economic development".

The Commissioner noted that the role of regional policy in delivering Community objectives in areas like competition and state aid rules, public procurement, transport or environment contributes to the co-operation with China in those policy areas and that the EU-China dialogue on regional policy can also contribute to the EU-China broader dialogue on issues such as those relating to trade, sustainable development and good governance.

A high level seminar will take place in Brussels in mid 2007 to allow Chinese and EU regional policy practitioners and experts to have a more complete picture of how EU regional policy is implemented and to exchange best practices and experiences.

By launching the co-operation with China on regional policy, the Commission followed up the commitment taken at the 7th China-EU Summit of December 2004 where balanced development and regional policy were identified as key areas on which both sides should share information and experience.