CHINA: China says Europe should take 'fundamental' reforms to solve its debt problem and avoids clear support for UN peacekeepers in Syria

Record ID: 280605

  • Title: CHINA: China says Europe should take 'fundamental' reforms to solve its debt problem and avoids clear support for UN peacekeepers in Syria
  • Date: 14th February 2012
  • Summary: BEIJING, CHINA (FEBRUARY 13, 2012) (REUTERS) EXTERIOR OF CHINESE FOREIGN MINISTRY CHINESE NATIONAL FLAG FLYING CHINESE FOREIGN MINISTRY SPOKESMAN LIU WEIMIN WALKING IN FOR REGULAR NEWS CONFERENCE JOURNALISTS (SOUNDBITE) (Mandarin) CHINESE FOREIGN MINISTRY SPOKESMAN LIU WEIMIN SAYING: "We believe that aside from taking some emergency relief steps, the EU should contin
  • Embargoed: 29th February 2012 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: China, China
  • Country: China
  • Topics: International Relations
  • Reuters ID: LVA11SWR1B099A2WNUDD3KS15FLT
  • Story Text: China said on Monday (February 13) that aside from emergency relief measures, European countries should take "fundamental" reforms to solve its debt problem.
    While Chinese leaders have repeatedly expressed confidence in European nations, they have also refrained from making firm financial commitments, urging Europe first to take further steps on its own.
    Premier Wen Jiabao, meeting German Chancellor Angela Merkel in Beijing this month, said China was considering increasing its participation in the rescue funds aimed at resolving the debt crisis, though he gave no explicit pledges.
    Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Weimin said the European debt crisis was at a crucial stage.
    "We believe that aside from taking some emergency relief steps, the EU should continue taking fiscal and financial structural and fundamental reforms to give a clearer signal to the international community. Countries in heavy debt should, according to their national conditions, adopt appropriate fiscal policies," Liu told a regular news conference in Beijing.
    The euro zone must agree to and approve a 130-billion-euro ($170 billion USD) bailout package with Greece before Wednesday (February 15) to allow time for complex legal procedures involved in the bond swap to be completed in time for a March 20 bond redemption.
    Failure to strike a deal risks pushing Athens into a chaotic debt default that could threaten its future in the euro zone and worsen the crisis.
    China's Foreign Ministry on Monday backed Arab League mediation in Syria but offered no clear sign of support for its call to send in peacekeepers to halt the Syrian government's violent crackdown on opposition groups.
    The Arab League on Sunday (February 12) passed a resolution asking the U.N. Security Council to authorise a joint U.N.-Arab peacekeeping mission to Syria.
    The call adds to diplomatic pressure on Russia and China, both heavily criticised by the West for blocking a draft U.N. resolution calling for Syrian President Bashar al-Assad Assad to give up his powers.
    "China calls for and supports the Arab League's continued efforts at political mediation, which plays a proactive and constructive role with regard to peaceful settlement of the Syrian issue. We believe the United Nations should offer constructive assistance on the basis of the U.N. charter and the norms of international relations," Liu said.
    The head of the Arab League, Nabil Elaraby, has said China and Russia lost diplomatic credit in the Arab world for their veto of the February 4 U.N Security Council draft resolution, and Washington's U.N. ambassador Susan Rice said "any further bloodshed that flows will be on their hands".
    Beijing has called such criticism irresponsible, insisting that it is committed to the long-term interests of the Syrian people.
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