China-UK Joint Statement
Proposals for developing bilateral co-operation
agreed by the two countries' Task Forces:
TRADE & INVESTMENT
At the heart of multi-sectoral collaboration
between China and the UK, we will develop bilateral programmes
across five key sectors—Finance, Energy, Information and
Communication Technology (ICT), Healthcare and Water. The sector
programmes will be developed in collaboration with industry, with
clear business outcomes. The Joint Economic and Trade Commission
will be underpinned by annual meetings at Secretary of State level,
alternating between the China and UK. These meetings will also
cover trade and investment policy issues.
A UK National Trade and Investment Strategy
for China. A new national trade and investment strategy for China
will build on UK Trade and Industry's (UKTI) existing work of
support for business and prioritising sectors and business services
across UK regions and China.
The two sides will encourage British enterprises
to invest in China and Chinese enterprises to invest in the UK.
The two sides will promote interaction and co-operation
between small and medium-sized enterprises of both countries.
FINANCE
The two sides look forward to the next round
of China-UK Financial Dialogue Ministerial consultations in Beijing,
at which both sides will be represented at Cabinet rank. The financial
dialogue provides a framework for the two sides to continue to
enhance and prioritise exchanges and cooperation in the financial
field, in particular exchanges and consultations on macro-economic
policy and industrial restructuring, public financial management,
job-creation, competition and regulatory policy, and environmental
management and protection. The two sides encourage participation
by the British banking sector in the reform of the Chinese banking
sector.
ICT
The two sides welcome proposals to stage an
ICT week in China in September 2004.
ENERGY
The two sides place importance on their energy
co-operation. Both are willing to exchange and co-operate through
various means in fields such as energy policy, energy reform and
development. We are both ready to share information and to promote
joint activities in the fields of energy sector governance, energy
efficiency and the use of renewable sources of energy. Both China
and UK attach importance to sustainable, global energy security
and to mitigating, and where possible reversing, the effects of
climate change. The two sides note with pleasure the number of
energy-related commercial contracts signed during this visit.
EDUCATION
Hold an annual China/UK Education Summit. These
will be held alternately in the UK and China, at Ministerial level.
The Chinese Ministry of Education and UK Department
of Education and Skills agree to work together to create scholarship
opportunities to support an exchange of high quality post-graduate
students to carry out research at universities in China and the
UK.The UK to work in collaboration with the Chinese to increase
understanding in the UK of modern China. The School Links programme
has a helpful role to play.
Business-led projects to encourage links between
industry and education. This would give engineers and others business
experience and practical knowledge.
SCIENCE AND
TECHNOLOGY
A "British Science in China" campaign,
to be launched in China in January 2005, will enhance Chinese
knowledge of UK scientific research and policy.
Willing to set up a series of exchanges on best
practice in the field of intellectual property. A strong intellectual
property regime supports science and technology development. The
UK wishes to share expertise to assist China's development of
an intellectual property regime, consistent with WTO and other
requirements, whilst also learning about China's priorities. The
long-term benefits could include establishment of research partnerships
in all areas of science and technology.
Establish a China-UK science and innovation
park steering committee to guide and support the work of science
and technology incubators. The two sides agree to co-operate in
research, prevention and treatment of communicable diseases and
epidemics, and to intensify information sharing and communication.
ENVIRONMENT AND
SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
Establish a UK/China Working Group on climate
change.
A well-focused programme of support to Environmental
Impact Assessment (EIA) and Strategic Environmental Assessments
(SEAs) in China.
DIALOGUE ON
SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
As partners on the issue of development, China
and the UK agree to share experience through a high level dialogue
on sustainable development involving a wide range of non-governmental
stakeholders.
CULTURE
Both sides are in favour of increasing cultural
exchange and co-operation. They support the Chinese Culture Year
held in the UK in 2004.
Both sides welcome recent progress towards concluding
a Cultural Centres Agreement, and reaffirm their commitments to
the successful signature of an Agreement at an early date.
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