The European Union Delegation to China of the European Commission held a reception with live music in Beijing Tuesday in honor of Europe Day, an annual event celebrated since 1950.

Every year, Europe Day has a special theme, depending on the most recent development in European integration. This year it is the enlargement of the union, with the slogan, “United in Diversity.”

On May 1, the EU took into its fold 10 new member states: Cyprus, Malta, Hungary, Poland, the Slovak Republic, Latvia, Estonia, Lithuania, the Czech Republic and Slovenia. This year’s expansion is the biggest and most ambitious in the EU’s history, raising the number of members from 15 to 25, and the total population to over 450 million, more than the combined populations of the United States and Russia.

At the reception, Ambassador Klaus Ebermann said 2004 is also a milestone in Sino-European relations. The frequent exchanges of visits by leaders demonstrate that the relationship between the EU and China has entered into a golden period. As a strategic trade partner, China is set to benefit from a bigger single market and simplified, enhanced access to the markets of the new member states. The enlargement creates an even wider market for Chinese products in Europe.

In 2003, China overtook Japan to become the EU’s second largest trading partner, while the EU is China’s third largest. Trade between the two has been increasing at a faster rate than that of China’s other leading trade partners. Since 1998, when the new member states began to assume the rights and responsibilities of membership, China has seen sales to the 10 new entrants more than triple, from 2.4 million Euros to 7.6 million in 2003.

To mark the occasion of the enlargement of the European Union on May 1, the European Commission Delegation to China launched a nationwide public information campaign on April 26. Discussions on the impact of the expansion on global trade, politics and society have been held in Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou.

Smaller roadshows will be carried to the 28 provincial capitals and municipalities all over China. The first roadshow was held in the newly opened European Studies Center of Wuhan University, Hubei Province, on May 10. A presentation was delivered in English and Chinese, followed by a question-and-answer session. Audiences of 50 to 100 people are expected at all the roadshow events, which will run through the end of July.

(China.org.cn by Wang Qian, May 12, 2004)