Digital Economy to play a key role in the future China-EU Economic and Trade Relationship 数字经济将在未来中欧经贸关系中扮演关键角色

Under the motto “Strengthening Policy Coordination, Promoting Sustainable Growth”, the sixth China-EU High Level Economic and Trade Dialogue (HED) was held in Brussels on October 18.  The dialogue was co-chaired by Jyrki Katainen, European Commission Vice-President for Jobs, Growth, Investment and Competitiveness, and Chinese Vice-Premier Ma Kai.

中国国务院副总理马凯10月18日在布鲁塞尔与欧委会就业、增长、投资与竞争力副主席卡泰宁共同主持了第六次中欧经贸高层对话，本次对话的主题为“加强政策协调，促进可持续增长”。

Held at a time when the global economy is debilitated by anemic growth, the HED injected a new impetus to and renewed attention for the future of the economic relationship between the two biggest trade partners in the world.

当前世界经济正处于复苏疲软、增长乏力的“贫血式成长”时期。对于中欧这两个世界最大贸易伙伴来说，本次对话不仅为双方经贸关系注入了新的动力，同时也为展望其未来走向再次聚焦。

 Participating Commissioners and Ministers reached consensus on many matters of strategic importance. In particular, the two parties agreed to:

与会的中欧领导人在诸多具有高度战略性的领域上达成了重要共识。其中，双方同意：

• strengthen dialogue on overcapacity, which includes a dedicated bilateral platform on steel and a Global Forum on steel overcapacity;
• 加强在过剩产能问题上的对话，包括成立一个专门的双边钢材平台，以及就钢铁过剩产能建立一个全球论坛

• conclude negotiations on an agreement on Geographical Indications by 2017, as part of the bilateral investment treaty;
• 争取在2017年结束中欧地理标志协定谈判，推动中欧投资协定谈判进程

• continue exploring synergies between the Investment Plan for Europe and the Belt and Road Initiative;
•  近一步探索“一带一路”倡议与欧洲投资计划的对接

• deepen the work to identify pilot projects and set up an Expert Group on financing and investment under the framework of the EU-China connectivity platform;
• 继续推动中欧互联互通平台建设，并在该框架下加快开发试点项目并成立金融和投资专家组

• launch practical cooperation on the circular economy.
• 开展循环经济领域的务实合作

Most importantly, the two sides agreed to further strengthen cooperation on the digital economy and the new industrial revolution, promising to establish joint 5G R&D programs and to set up cooperation mechanisms for the development of 5G technology trials, connected cars, Internet of Things and the industrial Internet.

最重要的是，双方一致同意要拥抱新工业革命、近一步深化中欧在数字经济领域的合作。双方承诺将联合开展5G研究试验项目并建立相应合作机制促进5G技术研发试验、互联汽车、物联网和工业互联网的发展。

During a press conference at the conclusion of the Dialogue, Vice-Premier Ma Kai noted that China is making preparations for the Third World Internet Conference, to be held on 16-18 November in Wuzhen, Eastern China. This year, the Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC) in cooperation with the Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) will host the China-Europe Digital Economy Dialogue, which will provide a platform to discuss the development of the digital cooperation between China and Europe, with a focus on policies, laws, regulations, innovation and digital transformation. The EU side welcomed the initiative and promised to support the event.

在中欧经贸高层对话结束之后的媒体见面会上，马凯副总理还提到中国正在为即将于11月16-18日在乌镇举办的第三届世界互联网大会做着积极准备。本次大会上，中央网信办和国家商务部将联合举办一个中欧数字经济对话。该对话将以政策、法规、管理、创新和数字变革为重点，为各路专家讨论中欧间数字合作的发展提供交流平台。欧方对此表示欢迎并承诺提供支持。

Besides high level figures from the Chinese government and the European Institutions, the Dialogue in Wuzhen will also feature representatives from national competition authorities, multilateral institutions and the business community. ChinaEU will chair the business dialogue, featuring leaders of telecom operators, Internet providers and high tech companies.

除了来自中国政府和欧盟机构的高级官员，中欧数字经济对话还将汇集来自国家竞争当局、多边机构以及工商企业界的代表们。中欧数字协会届时将作为商业部分的主持，对话电信运营商、互联网络供应商以及高科技公司的领导者。