The First China-Europe Forum, moderated by Giles Merritt, Secretary General of the Friends of Europe, a leading European think tank, ended on November 29, 2011 in Brussels after heated, in-depth discussions. Song Zhe, China's Ambassador to the EU, said the forum was a meeting of minds and an exchange of thoughts and ideas.

The forum, co-sponsored by the Friends of Europe and China's Mission to the EU, will become an annual event.

Boosting cooperation

Given their strong strategic consensus, China and Europe are confident about the future development of their relations, said officials and experts at the forum. Equality, pragmatism and a future-oriented approach should characterize Sino-EU strategic relations, according to Zoltan Martinusz, Principal Adviser on External Affairs for the European Council President Herman Van Rompuy. Since China will play an important role in the 21st century, establishing a comprehensive and strategic partnership between China and the EU is not a choice but a must.

"Political equality between China and Europe can reflect their strategic mutual trust, which paves the way for long-term cooperation," said Meng Xiangqing, a professor with the National Defense University of the People's Liberation Army.

Sino-EU economic cooperation has gained momentum despite the European sovereign debt crisis. Their trade volume is expected to hit a record high of more than $500 billion in 2011. Forum participants believe a huge trade volume, large markets and complementary industrial structures will help China and the EU develop their potential for cooperation to the fullest. As they explore new areas of cooperation, they will see their interests increasingly converge and embrace prosperity together.

During the European sovereign debt crisis, Western companies conducted an increasing number of mergers, according to Joaquin Almunia, Vice President of the European Commission and European Commissioner for Competition. Likewise, the EU should give Chinese companies greater access to European markets. It should welcome mergers by Chinese state-owned and private companies in Europe, instead of practicing trade protectionism.

China presents enormous investment opportunities for the EU, according to Leon Brittan, former Vice President of the European Commission. The EU should not pose barriers for Chinese investors because of ideological differences. China and the EU should further open up their economies by promoting mutual investment. A strong China is conducive to European trade, and Europe should make the most of China's power and resources to revitalize it.

European countries should address the root causes of their crisis by rehabilitating the capacity to achieve self-motivated growth and improving solvency, said Wang Yiming, Vice President of the Academy of Macroeconomic Research of China's National Development and Reform Commission. China urges the EU to recognize its status as a full market economy, reduce anti-dumping and countervailing actions against China, fully open European markets to Chinese companies and increase the investment of Chinese companies in Europe. All this will help create job opportunities for Europe, promote its economic growth and restore its capacity to help itself.

Narrowing gaps

China and Europe have had glaring differences both ideological and practical. After working together for a long time, both sides have realized they should stick to the principles of harmony in diversity and seeking common ground while shelving differences.

The West has ruled the world for the past several centuries, said British international affairs expert Martin Jacques. As a result, Westerners are not willing to learn about and respect other nations and cultures with the assumption that all others should live like them. Now it is time for Europe to take a modest attitude toward other cultures. Since China was and will always be different from Europe, it is imperative that two sides know more about each other.

There are diverse voices in contemporary Chinese society and public opinion has become increasingly important, said Kerry Brown, head of the Asia Program of Chatham House, London. China and Europe should engage in cultural exchanges in a wide range of areas to narrow gaps in their mutual perception.

"Attempts to escalate cultural differences into cultural conflicts and incorporate ideological differences into ruthless rivalry run counter to the principle of cultural diversity," said Hao Shiyuan, Director of the Institute of Ethnology and Anthropology of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences. Respect of political and cultural diversity is part of European culture. With this in mind, Europe should respect China's social system, political values and core principles.

"Given their huge historical, cultural and religious differences, China and Europe hold distinct views on human rights, with China attaching greater importance to the rights to life and development," said Chen Shiqiu, Vice President of the China Society for Human Rights Studies.

Despite their differences, neither Europe nor China should use human rights as a tool to exert pressure on each other, said Brittan.