Hamburg Summit addresses China-Europe economic relations

World Today

Hamburg Summit addresses China-Europe economic relations

China’s Vice Premier has called for Europe to officially recognize China as a market economy.

It’s a topic of debate at the China Meets Europe Summit in Hamburg, Germany – as the continent ponders how the U.S. election result might impact its trade policies.

CCTV’s Guy Henderson reports.
Follow Guy Henderson on Twitter @guyhendersonde

China’s Vice Premier Liu Yandong came here to sell the virtues of the Chinese economy, and to urge Europe to continue to take advantage.

In the corridors and conference halls of the China Meets Europe Summit, delegates are still trying to digest how much the world may have changed since November 8th.

Europe faces a dilemma in the wake of the U.S. election result.

On the one hand, some believe an American turn towards protectionism presses the economic case for building stronger trade ties with countries like China.

Others argue that with growing public skepticism about trade liberalization moving too quickly would be politically risky.

The latter seems to just about prevail here, at least for now.

There’s talk the European Commission may apply the breaks in talks over a comprehensive investment agreement with China.

Still, there’s a sense here that European policymakers may put re-gaining the trust of voters back home, ahead of furthering it with its partners abroad.