Free trade agreement (FTA) negotiations will form another topic during Xis visit. However, as the EU and the United States are negotiating a Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) agreement, its unlikely for the EU to fight on two fronts at the same time and start FTA negotiations with China. ... The recent developments in Ukraine are set to dominate the bilateral talks during Xis Europe tour. Ukraine is one of the most important strategic partners of China; and both sides have carried out extensive cooperation in the infrastructure and agriculture sectors. Ukraine is also an important economic hub in Chinas new Silk Road economic belt project. Given the situation in Ukraine, the EU is bound to push China to enhance its coordination and cooperation with Europe and the America on the issue. But in view of the complexity of the situation in Ukraine, in order to protect its interests, China may still take a more balanced stance and promote peaceful negotiations. ... For starters, China may propose to strengthen bilateral cooperation in global economic governance within the G20 and the WTO frameworks. The EU will certainly be in support of such a proposal, which is different from the U.S. practice of throwing away the current rules of international trade in favor of another amendment. China and the EU have already made this view clear in the China-EU 2020 Strategic Agenda for Cooperation. During this meeting, both sides may strengthen coordination in and consultation on specific areas.
Posted on: Thu, 27 Mar 2014 08:26:57 +0000
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