The European Union called Monday for continuing high-level talks with China on human rights, saying the issue is crucial to its ties with Beijing.
The 15-member Union, which is to hold a summit with China in Beijing on October 30, welcomed the country’s economic progress and growing role on the world stage, for example in setting the stage for talks on North Korea.
“The role that China thus has assumed illustrates how its perception of the world is changing as it gets further integrated into the global community,” a statement from EU foreign ministers said.
The ministers “encouraged Chinese engagement in resolving further regional issues,” in particular the current political situation in the military-run state of Myanmar, formerly Burma.
They also underlined that “supporting the transition to an open society based upon the rule of law and respect for human rights is an essential element of the EU’s policy towards China.”
They called for the launch of an “EU-China dialogue on human rights at the appropriate political level.. while preserving the existing contacts at working level.”
The ministers said they wanted Beijing to continue dialogue with the Dalai Lama, Tibet’s spiritual leader.
