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China eyes eurozone investment

February 14, 2012

Top EU officials are in Beijing for a summit that will touch on a number of issues. China's premier has said his country was ready to increase its participation in the eurozone.

https://p.dw.com/p/142yp
BEIJING, Feb. 14, 2012 Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao (C), European Council President Herman Van Rompuy (L), and European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso (R) meet with reporters after they attended the 14th China-EU summit at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Feb. 14, 2012 pixel; picture alliance/ZUMA Press
Image: picture alliance/ZUMA Press

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao said at a summit between China and European Union officials that China was ready to increase "its participation in resolving the EU debt problems."

Wen's comments came at the end of a meeting with European Union President Herman Van Rompuy and European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso, who are in Beijing for the two-day summit.

The European delegation is seeking to secure ties with China, which could play an important role in propping up the struggling eurozone economies. In turn, as Europe is China's top export partner, it is interested in seeing that the eurozone stays healthy.

"Our message from the EU side is Europe is doing what it takes and will continue to do what it takes to restore confidence," Barroso said in a joint news conference.

Wen did not make concrete commitments to contributing to a eurozone bailout fund, which is backed by the International Monetary Fund along with the EU.

In addition to mutual economic matters, the Chinese premier made comments regarding Beijing's position on Syria.

"What is most urgent and pressing now is to prevent war and chaos so that the Syrian people will be free from even greater suffering," Wen said. "To achieve this objective, China supports efforts consistent with the UN charter and principles and we are ready to strengthen communication with all parties in Syria and the international community and continue to play a constructive role. China will absolutely not protect any party, including the government of Syria."

Just over a week ago, China joined Russia in blocking a resolution at the United Nations Security Council that would have condemned violence from the regime of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad against Syrians protesting his rule.

mz/msh (AFP, AP)

EU-China-Gipfel in Peking: schwierige Mission # 14.02.2012 14 Uhr # Journal (englisch)