EUOBSERVER / BRUSSELS - The European Commission is optimistic about market economy reforms in China, saying the Asian state has made "significant progress." But some are wary of Brussels sunny outlook on China's trade development. In a commission assessment report presented to trade experts from EU member countries recently and seen by EUobserver, the EU executive says "China has made significant progress towards market economy status" in the last three years, adding that the Asian state has "shown evidence that it is committed to significantly reducing state interference in the management of companies." But China has completed only one out of five technical conditions necessary to be granted a market economy status (MES) by Brussels, the commission points out. Conditions include less government influence on companies; laws to end the ripping off of EU intellectual property; an end to tax breaks and soft bank loans for Chinese firms and the opening up of its vast government procurement sector to outsiders. According to the commission's assessment, new laws in China could take the country closer to gaining MES.
Two days before the G8 summit, China laid out a climate change plan that stresses economic growth over tough emissions standards, and warned wealthy countries not to interfere with the growth of emerging economies. The Chinese government released its first national plan on climate change on Monday. The plan supported the rights of developing nations to pursue growth and rejected the idea of binding limits on greenhouse gas emissions. "The international community should respect the rights of the developing countries and allow them enough space for development. The consequences of inhibiting their development would be far greater than not doing anything to fight climate change," said Ma Kai, the minister of China's key Reform and Development Commission.
The Chinese government released its first national plan on climate change on Monday. The plan supported the rights of developing nations to pursue growth and rejected the idea of binding limits on greenhouse gas emissions.
"The international community should respect the rights of the developing countries and allow them enough space for development. The consequences of inhibiting their development would be far greater than not doing anything to fight climate change," said Ma Kai, the minister of China's key Reform and Development Commission.
