In December 1995, the European Council agreed conclusions based on a Commission communication on a long-term policy for EU-China relations. Among the Council's goals for the EU's strategy towards China are to support sustainable development, the smooth and gradual integration of China into the world economy, the fight against poverty, the promotion of democracy, structures based on the rule of law and the respect for human rights based on the Charter of the United Nations, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the 1993 Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action. These objectives and basic principles constitute essential elements in relations between the EU and China.
The Government's concern at the human rights situation in China has been raised at every appropriate opportunity with the Chinese authorities. Most recently, on 23 September 1996, I led the EU Ministerial Troika at a meeting in New York with the Chinese Vice-Premier and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Qian Qichen. I availed of this opportunity to pursue the question of human rights in the People's Republic China, which I have raised consistently in previous meetings with the Vice-Premier. One of the matters which I addressed was the question of the continuation of the EU Troika/China human rights dialogue at expert level.