Sino-EU ties should not be hurt by disputes
By Qin Jize and Zhao Huanxin (China Daily)
Updated: 2005-07-16 07:10

"We have that positive appreciation of the growth dynamics of your economy. This is so obvious that that does not need even to be a 'status'," he said.

He conceded there are some specific issues in trade, investment and in rules that Europe wants to discuss with China.

"If, as I hope, there is a satisfactory solution for some of those problems, I think it would not be difficult to achieve that additional step. But it still needs some time to come to that conclusion," he said.

Talking about the lifting of the 16-year arms embargo, Barroso said the EU has kept that objective in mind and the move remains on the agenda of the EU.

In response to the question of whether lifting the embargo has been suspended due to external pressures, Barroso said the EU makes decision based on its own analysis, interests and values.

He said the true difficulty is to have all the 25 countries of the bloc take the decision unanimously.

Concerning trade disputes with China, Barroso said the two sides should look at the problem and solve it in a "constructive manner."

Only when there is a strong trade relationship are there trade problems, he said.