Research On The Development Of Sino-EU Economic And Trade Relationship

The history of world economy shows that external economic relationship is an important means to push the development of world structure and it is an effective way to realize a country's social and economic goals and to influence the outside world. The importance of external economic relationship is quite obvious in the background of economic globalization. China is the biggest developing country and the engine of the economic development of Asia. European Union is the most advanced regional economic organization and the core of the development of Europe. Therefore, Sino-EU economic relationship becomes one of the most important economic relations in the world.2000 years ago, the Silk Road connected China and European countries. Then, with the successive collapse of Rome Empire, Han Empire and Mongolia Empire, the trade between China and European countries was cut off. In 1840, Opium War broke out. In the next 100 years, the trade between China and European counties developed very slowly, and was characterized by European countries'exploitation and plunder towards China. During the period of Cold War, Sino-EC economic relationship developed continuously. After 1990, the Sino-EU economic relationship makes a great achievement. Nowadays, EU becomes China's largest trade partner and China becomes EU's second largest trade partner. EU is also China's fifth largest investment source and the largest technology supplier. At present, Sino-EU economic relationship has become the footstone of Sino-EU relationship. It is necessary to research the development of Sino-EU economic relationship.The dissertation uses two research methods. One is the historical and systematical research method and the other is qualitative analysis and quantitative analysis.The Sino-EU relationship in this dissertation refers to the relationship between China and European Union. The dissertation emphasizes the economic relationship between EU and China after 1990. Restricted by the length of the dissertation, the research into the Sino-EU economic relationship limits to the Sino-EU trade and investment relationship.The dissertation includes five chapters and the content and structure are as follows.Chapter one includes the significance, present situation, the framework and the innovation and limitation of the dissertation.Chapter two is the research of the Sino-EC economic relationship before 1990s. At first, the dissertation reviews the relationship between China and western European countries. Then, the chapter analyzes the Sino-EC economic relationship during the cold war. The development of the Sino-EC relationship during the Cold War is divided into three phases: from the establishment of PRC to the late 50s; from early 60s to the late 70s; from the late 70s to the late 80s. Then, the chapter studies the general situation, the characters and factors that influence the Sino-EC economic relationship in each phase. During the period, though the Sino-EC economic relationship makes progress, it fails to inspire both China and EC to seek their common economic interests. Both China and EC don't attach enough importance to bilateral economic relationship.Chapter three is the research of the Sino-EU economic relationship in the 1990s. The chapter reviews the background and the general situation of the Sino-EU economic relationship in this period. Then, it sums up the characters of the Sino-EU economic relationship. Then, it comprehensively analyzes the factors that influence the Sino-EU economic relationship. In the 1990s, in view of the rapid economic growth in Asia and China, China's huge market and the improvement of investment environment in China, EU adjusts its strategy towards Asia and China. In this period, China also adjusts its foreign strategy from 4 aspects. It enables China to realize more common viewpoints and interests with EU. Besides, the economic complementarities between China and EU become the foundation of the development of bilateral economic relationship. Generally speaking, the EU's integration in this period exerts positive effects on the development of bilateral economic relationship. In addition, with the development of economic globalization, a country tends to emphasize its economic interests when it deals with foreign relations. Therefore, EU tends to take a practical attitude in terms of ideology and human rights. All the factors mentioned above push the quick development of the bilateral economic relationship. However, EU still emphasizes the contact to change policy and uses Taiwan and Tibet to condemn China.Chapter four is the research of the Sino-EU economic relationship in the 21st century and some influential factors. The chapter reviews the background and the general situation of the bilateral economic relationship in this period. Then, it generalized the characters of the bilateral economic relationship. Then, it analyzes the factors that influence the development of bilateral economic relationship. At last, it analyzes the questions existing in the bilateral economic relationship. With the continuous expansion of Sino-EU trade and investment, the huge economic interests between China and EU become the foundation of the bilateral economic relationship. In the 21st century, with the further development of economic globalization, China and EU actively attach themselves to the economic globalization so as to obtain more interests. Both of them begin to emphasize bilateral economic relationship. Besides, the development of bilateral economic relationship helps to protect their economic safety. After "9·11" event, China and EU set up strategic partnership and find out more strategic interests. China's entry into WTO also pushes the development of bilateral relationship. The formal circulation of Euro dollar expands China's export to EU and creates more opportunities to EU's investment in China. In addition, EU's fifth enlargement also pushes China's investment in EU. All the factors greatly push the further development of bilateral economic relationship. However, there are some negative factors, such as human rights, investment diversion due to EU's fifth enlargement, EU's protective trade measures and so on. At last, there are some questions, such as trade imbalance, the relative small size of EU's investment in China, EU's ban on arms export to China, China's market economy status, and knowledge property protection and market access. All these questions are still not settled and exert negative influence on the development of bilateral economic relationship.Chapter five is the development tendency of the Sino-EU economic relationship and china's countermeasures. The chapter forecasts the possible tendency of China and EU's trade relationship, China and EU mutual investment and China and EU's cooperation in science and technology. Then, the chapter tries to make suggestions on the development of bilateral economic relationship.