China-EU-U.S. cooperation of increasing significance to world
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Trilateral cooperation between China, the EU and the United States, with China's eye-catching development over the past years, has become increasingly important to world peace and prosperity, officials and scholars have said.
Cooperation and coordination between the three are "absolutely essential" to ensure world peace and prosperity, Chinese ambassador to the EU, Song Zhe, told the opening of a two-day conference held by the College of Europe in Bruges, northwest Belgium, on Friday.
At the conference, officials and scholars were examining the latest developments and global impact of the China-EU-U.S. ties.
"We, as major regional and global powers, are increasingly sharing a same destiny," Song said, stressing that the three sides should adopt a long-term perspective to appreciate the strategic, historical and global significance of the China-EU-U.S. relations.
In light of global issues such as climate change, economic crisis and energy security that need multilateral cooperation, observers believe the international order has been changing with the development of China and other emerging economies.
Fulbright Professor Alan Henrikson with the College of Europe said if these three large parties could cooperate in the field of climate change and in managing the global financial crisis, it would go a long way toward stabilizing the situation in all these areas.
"I am also historically optimistic about the future of China," said Henrikson, who got his Ph.D. degree in history from Harvard University.
His view was largely echoed by Professor Men Jing, director of the EU-China relations chair under the College of Europe.
"Many global issues can be better solved with the cooperation among China, the EU, and the U.S. The rise of China is a fact and the only question is how to make the EU and the U.S. to better accept the fact," said Men.
As the world's most populous nation, China became the world's second largest economy in 2010.
"With the rise of China, the power balance of the world is shifting and it's a time for opportunities," Prof. Pierre Defraigne, executive director at the College of Europe-Madariaga Foundation, told Xinhua.
Defraigne said he believed the development of China was conducive to world stability and long-term prosperity.
Viorel Isticioaia Budura, EU External Action Service's managing director for Asia, said both the EU and the United States had a common interest in integrating China into a sustainable and open world economy.
Some experts even believe the development of China could stimulate the EU's political integration.
"I am confident that the rise of China will precisely act as a catalyst for forcing Europe to speed up its march toward unity," said Defraigne.
China has been making steady progress in its relations with the EU and the United States over the past years.
Chinese President Hu Jintao had a successful state visit to the United States in January this year, while Premier Wen Jiabao visited three EU nations -- Greece, Belgium and Italy -- last October. European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso, heading a delegation of around 50 EU Commission officials, visited China from April 29 to May 1 last year.
According to ambassador Song, China's efforts to consolidate ties with the EU and the United States serve as a solid boost to their trilateral relations.
"The road ahead is promising but certainly not trouble-free," he said, calling for deeper trust, closer communication and stronger cooperation between the three to more effectively deal with global challenges.
Vanessa Liberson in Brussels contributed to the story.
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