EU chief meets China's Wen with Tibet on agenda
European Commission president Jose Manuel Barroso met on Friday with Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao, launching high-level dialogue expected to include the unrest in Tibet.
By Agencies |
BEIJING: European Commission president Jose Manuel Barroso met on Friday with Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao, launching high-level dialogue expected to include the unrest in Tibet.
The meeting with Barroso, who is leading a European Union delegation here, came as French President Nicolas Sarkozy said he was "shocked" by the deadly violence in Tibet and urged China to give greater autonomy to the region.
His comments, with France due to take on the EU presidency in July, could throw fuel on a simmering dispute over Tibet and subsequent protests in Paris that disrupted the Beijing Olympic torch relay.
Sarkozy said Thursday he had not yet decided whether to attend the August 8 Olympic opening ceremony in Beijing, but would work toward a common European position.
Barroso and Wen were expected to issue a joint statement after their talks, according to EU officials here.
"Our meeting today marks a significant step toward the strengthening of the strategic partnership between China and Europe," Barroso said as he began the talks with Wen.
"This is the first time we have a meeting of this kind, what we call an executive-to-executive meeting. It's also the first time that a large group of the European Commission visits China."
Wen said in his remarks that he had already talked with Barroso the night before in a "friendly" meeting.
"Consensus was reached on a lot of issues, laying a good basis for today's talks," Wen said.
The meeting with Barroso, who is leading a European Union delegation here, came as French President Nicolas Sarkozy said he was "shocked" by the deadly violence in Tibet and urged China to give greater autonomy to the region.
His comments, with France due to take on the EU presidency in July, could throw fuel on a simmering dispute over Tibet and subsequent protests in Paris that disrupted the Beijing Olympic torch relay.
Sarkozy said Thursday he had not yet decided whether to attend the August 8 Olympic opening ceremony in Beijing, but would work toward a common European position.
Barroso and Wen were expected to issue a joint statement after their talks, according to EU officials here.
"Our meeting today marks a significant step toward the strengthening of the strategic partnership between China and Europe," Barroso said as he began the talks with Wen.
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"This is the first time we have a meeting of this kind, what we call an executive-to-executive meeting. It's also the first time that a large group of the European Commission visits China."
Wen said in his remarks that he had already talked with Barroso the night before in a "friendly" meeting.
"Consensus was reached on a lot of issues, laying a good basis for today's talks," Wen said.
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