by Andrew Willis
EUOBSERVER / BRUSSELS - The Czech EU presidency has indicated that the European Union and China are to hold a summit on 20 May in Prague, six months after the previous meeting was cancelled because of a diplomatic spat over Tibet.
When asked in Prague whether the rumoured date was accurate, Czech foreign minister Karel Schwarzenberg said: "Yes, there hasn't been any change," reports the French Press Agency.
The date for the EU-China summit was one of the topics discussed by EU foreign ministers who met in the Czech Republic last Friday (27 March).
China's mission to the EU told EUobserver that they were busily making preparations for the summit but were unable to confirm the date at present.
However, they did confirm that Chinese vice-premier Wang Qishan will visit Brussels in late April or early May as part of high-level bilateral trade co-operation and investment talks.
EU commissioner for external relations Benita Ferrero-Waldner is currently in China to discuss the preparations for the G20 meeting in London on 2 April, climate change and also the upcoming EU-China Summit.
The commission says discussions will also look at the current state of play of negotiations on a Partnership and Co-operation Agreement. The negotiations started in 2007.
A previous EU-China summit scheduled to take place in Brussels last December was cancelled by the Chinese side following French President Nicholas Sarkozy's announcement of his intention to meet the Tibetan spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, in Poland.
The French government held the EU's rotating six-month presidency at the time and Mr Sarkozy's move was seen as antagonistic by a Chinese administration that is sensitive over the Tibetan question.
Since then, relations have improved following a fence-mending tour by Chinese premier Wen Jiabao in January and a trade delegation of about 200 Chinese entrepreneurs led by commerce minister Chen Deming in February.
However, the Chinese administration was incensed earlier this month when the European Parliament adopted a declaration marking the fiftieth anniversary of an uprising in Tibet against Chinese rule that saw the Dalai Lama flee to India, where he continues to reside.
The Dalai Lama was recently refused a travel visa to visit South Africa where he was due to attend a conference on football's role in promoting world peace.
Despite the South African government's statement that the move was intended to prevent the Tibetan leader from distracting the country's 2010 football world cup preparations, in reality the decision reflects the increasing unwillingness around the globe to upset China.
China has become a major investor in Africa as it seeks to secure improved access to raw materials.
Source: www.euobserver.com
EUOBSERVER / BRUSSELS - The Czech EU presidency has indicated that the European Union and China are to hold a summit on 20 May in Prague, six months after the previous meeting was cancelled because of a diplomatic spat over Tibet.
When asked in Prague whether the rumoured date was accurate, Czech foreign minister Karel Schwarzenberg said: "Yes, there hasn't been any change," reports the French Press Agency.
The date for the EU-China summit was one of the topics discussed by EU foreign ministers who met in the Czech Republic last Friday (27 March).
China's mission to the EU told EUobserver that they were busily making preparations for the summit but were unable to confirm the date at present.
However, they did confirm that Chinese vice-premier Wang Qishan will visit Brussels in late April or early May as part of high-level bilateral trade co-operation and investment talks.
EU commissioner for external relations Benita Ferrero-Waldner is currently in China to discuss the preparations for the G20 meeting in London on 2 April, climate change and also the upcoming EU-China Summit.
The commission says discussions will also look at the current state of play of negotiations on a Partnership and Co-operation Agreement. The negotiations started in 2007.
A previous EU-China summit scheduled to take place in Brussels last December was cancelled by the Chinese side following French President Nicholas Sarkozy's announcement of his intention to meet the Tibetan spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, in Poland.
The French government held the EU's rotating six-month presidency at the time and Mr Sarkozy's move was seen as antagonistic by a Chinese administration that is sensitive over the Tibetan question.
Since then, relations have improved following a fence-mending tour by Chinese premier Wen Jiabao in January and a trade delegation of about 200 Chinese entrepreneurs led by commerce minister Chen Deming in February.
However, the Chinese administration was incensed earlier this month when the European Parliament adopted a declaration marking the fiftieth anniversary of an uprising in Tibet against Chinese rule that saw the Dalai Lama flee to India, where he continues to reside.
The Dalai Lama was recently refused a travel visa to visit South Africa where he was due to attend a conference on football's role in promoting world peace.
Despite the South African government's statement that the move was intended to prevent the Tibetan leader from distracting the country's 2010 football world cup preparations, in reality the decision reflects the increasing unwillingness around the globe to upset China.
China has become a major investor in Africa as it seeks to secure improved access to raw materials.
Source: www.euobserver.com
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