European Commission seeks support for its ‘good and solid’ investment deal with China
- The commission boasts success in securing a commitment from China to make efforts to ratify key international conventions against forced labour
- The group’s memo seeks to galvanise European Parliament members
In a memo sent on Tuesday to the European Parliament, seen by the South China Morning Post, the European Commission seeks to galvanise parliament members – many of them sceptical of the deal – and to dismiss speculation over a weakened relationship with the US as a result of the agreement.
“The negotiated result is the most ambitious outcome that China has ever agreed with a third country,” the memo read.
“Most importantly, the EU has a good and solid deal within its reach. It will not get better the longer we negotiate,” it continued. “There is now a positive momentum, which we want to use, for the benefit of our companies, our economy and our overall China strategy.”
It added: “In addition to rules against the forced transfer of technologies, [the deal] will also be the first agreement to deliver on obligations for the behaviour of state-owned enterprises and comprehensive transparency rules for subsidies.”
