Embassy of the People Republic of China

ON THE RESOLUTION BY THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT ON THE COMMUNICATION FROM THE COMMISSION ON A LONG TERM POLICY FOR CHINA-EUROPE RELATIONS BY THE FOREIGN AFFAIRS COMMITTEE OF THE NATIONAL PEOPLE'S CONGRESS OF CHINA AUTHORIZED BY THE STANDING COMMITTEE OF NPC

13 June, 1997

On 12 June, the European Parliament adopted the Resolution on the Communication from the Commission on a Long Term Policy for China-Europe Relations. Although it supports the European Union's long term China policy and wishes to develop relations and cooperation with China in the economic, trade, cultural and other fields, the Resolution unjustifiably accuses and vilifies China at great length in terms of its judicial system, its policies towards minorities and religion, its domestic economic policies and foreign relations. In addition, its wording on the issues of human rights, Tibet, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macao constitutes a gross interference in China's internal affairs. It advocates for Taiwan's membership in international organizations and has even gone so far as to suggest that the efforts for the reunification across the Taiwan Straits would " lead to conflict " . This Resolution adopted by the European Parliament has poisoned the atmosphere of China-European relations and thus disrupted their normal

development. The Standing Committee of the National People's Congress of China hereby expresses its utmost indignation at the anti-China clamor of this Resolution. To promote peace and development is the mainstream of the world today. To seek mutual respect and equality, oppose power politics and hegemonism, and promote dialogue and cooperation and refrain from confrontation and conflicts--this had increasingly become the consensus of the international community. But some people in the European Parliament, still with the Cold War mentality and the old colonialist ideas, hate to see China develop and grow strong. They have repeatedly instigated the European Parliament to adopt anti-China resolutions, thereby interfering in China's internal affairs, damaging China's image and hurting the feelings of the Chinese people, in a premeditated, but vain attempt to confront China and obstruct its development. These perverse acts of theirs have run counter to the desires of the European Union and its members for better

relations with China and have impaired their efforts in this regard. Furthermore, they have also blemished the very image of the European Parliament itself and will undoubtedly damage the fundamental and long-term interests of the peoples of the European Union eventually. It is only over ten days before China's resumption of the exercise of sovereignty over Hong Kong, which is a significant step forward in our efforts to accomplish the great cause of the reunification of the motherland. Macao will smoothly return to China in two years' time. Taiwan will also return to the embrace of the motherland eventually. The Chinese people have long stood up and have firmly embarked upon the broad road of building socialism with Chinese characteristics. Those in the European Parliament who have tried to change China according to their will by exerting pressure have apparently miscalculated the situation. No one can stop China from getting reunified, prosperous and powerful. China has alwayspursued an independent foreig

n policy of peace and is willing to develop friendly relations and cooperation with all other countries in the world including Member States of the European Union. The National People's Congress of China attaches importance to the development of relations with the European Parliament. But their relations can only be based on mutual respect, equality and mutual non- interference in each other's internal affairs. We would like to seriously demand these people in the European Parliament that they should discard the Cold War mentality, conform to the trend of the times and do something useful for the healthy development of China-European relations and for world peace and progress.(End)