China-EU summit focuses on trade, environment

At a summit in Prague, China and the European Union (EU) focused on economic, trade and environmental issues, while vowing closer cooperation, Reuters reported. The summit follows months of strained ties between China and the EU after Beijing postponed a planned December meeting over a meeting between French President Nicolas Sarkozy and the Dalai Lama. France held the EU’s rotating presidency at the time. Premier Wen Jiabao was in Prague for the summit in what he said was a sign of China’s commitment to put differences aside. In addition to talks on climate change, three memorandums of understanding – on small- and medium-sized enterprises, science, and clean energy – were signed at the summit. Separately, China said that it is drafting a long-term plan for climate change that would strengthen China’s “capacity to enforce international covenants.”