The Imperative for a New EU-China Functional Relationship?

The main aim of the paper is the imperative for a new EU-China functional relationships? What indicates the importance and innovativeness of the research is the presentation of the technical progress especially in China, the growth of economic ties with the European Union and the benefits resulting from liberalized of the China foreign trade policy under WTO. Realistic point is important trends in the trade regime between EU and China. Their commercial relations are too important to become hostage to political grandstanding or airy rhetoric by politicians performing for domestic galleries. Europe is China’s largest export market, and China now ranks second on Europe’s list of key trading partners. Trade with China dwarfs any other trade relation Europe has with emerging Asia. Disturbing this relationship would have ramifications for sales, growth and employment. Economic growth is generally preferable in China to military and extensive expansion. With new investments, a country can transform its position through industrial expansion at home and sustain it through international trade. China is especially sensitive to the advantages of intensive growth and will not wish to disrupt essential economic arrangements that have been crucial to her success. The Chinese government is less concerned today about Western criticisms of China’s autocratic system, but the Chinese people have grown more nationalistic and represent a potentially greater threat to commercial relations. Commercial interests in autocratic regimes cause political dilemmas. EU-China trade has grown increasingly one-sided, and this is not sustainable. It is EU and China mutual interest that trade relations are balanced and fair, to benefit current and future generations. EU hope to go through other sectors of bilateral cooperation and how the EU and China can tackle global challenges. European Union must have a realistic assessment to what extent it can somehow magically change the Chinese government’s outlook and political choices. Chinese and European leaders must find a new normal – a functional relationship that works for both sides.

European Union, China, technical progress, foreign trade policy, new EU-China functional relationship

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