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China’s human rights record criticised by MEPs

Originally published by BBC News,21 Sept 2010

China’s human rights record came in for criticism during a debate by MEPs ahead of a EU-China summit in October.

The debate on 21 September 2010 opened with a statement by Trade Commissioner Karel de Gucht who said that relations between the two blocs had “grown immensely” since formal relations began in 1975.

He told MEPs that China was a vital trading partner with the EU but that more needed to be done to open Chinese markets to freer trade.

China is now the EU’s second largest partner after the United States.

However many MEPs used the debate to highlight issues including the death penalty, internet censorship and the treatment of people living in Tibet.

Italian liberal Niccolo Rinaldi said the EU needed to speak with one voice to highlight concerns, and Irish Socialist Party MEP Joe Higgins accused Chinese companies of “making profit on the back of workers in appalling condition”.

The 13th annual EU-China summit will take place on 6 October.

A recent summit of EU leaders agreed new guidelines on trade and communication with the EU’s main partners.

 

http://news.bbc.co.uk/democracylive/hi/europe/newsid_9016000/9016345.stm