[{"bbox": [86, 154, 1145, 209], "category": "List-item", "text": "* Promote **European values and interests** in the bilateral relations with China, in line with the multi-faceted approach outlined in the 'Strategic Outlook' Joint Communication (March 2019);"}, {"bbox": [86, 215, 1145, 322], "category": "List-item", "text": "* Engage China to **tackle global challenges**, to deliver on international commitments such as the Agenda 2030 and, Paris Agreement and the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, and to address its role as global actor and donor by promoting international norms and standards and countering negative impact where necessary."}, {"bbox": [86, 327, 1145, 408], "category": "Text", "text": "This AAP focuses on EU policy priorities and strategic interests in our bilateral agenda with China, notably on environmental and circular economy issues, wildlife protection, as well as global development challenges. The Team Europe approach will be leveraged throughout the three components of the AAP."}, {"bbox": [86, 413, 1145, 520], "category": "Text", "text": "**Component 1** will aim to improve the level playing field between the EU and China on environmental requirements for circular economy, chemicals, deforestation, biodiversity, pollution, water management. This will be done through reinforced EU-China policy dialogues and cooperation in environment and green/circular economy to align China's environmental legislation framework with that of the EU."}, {"bbox": [86, 525, 1145, 580], "category": "Text", "text": "**Component 2** will seek to enhance EU-China policy dialogue and cooperation in tackling illegal wildlife trade to advance objectives set out in the EU Action Plan against Wildlife Trafficking."}, {"bbox": [86, 585, 1145, 692], "category": "Text", "text": "**Component 3** will generate evidence-based analysis on China's evolving and expanding role in international development; support the development of a cohort of European researchers with expertise on this subject; facilitate technical exchanges between the EU and Chinese counterparts; and promote knowledge and understanding in China of the EU as the leading global development actor."}, {"bbox": [86, 727, 322, 758], "category": "Section-header", "text": "# 2 RATIONALE"}, {"bbox": [86, 791, 234, 819], "category": "Section-header", "text": "## 2.1 Context"}, {"bbox": [84, 883, 1145, 1414], "category": "Text", "text": "The June 2023 European Council conclusions on China and the strategic discussions at the May 2023 Gymnich informal meeting of foreign affairs ministers and the October 2022 Foreign Affairs Council and European Council reaffirmed support for the fundamentals of the EU's realist multi-faceted approach towards China, set out in the EU-China 'Strategic Outlook' Joint Communication in March 2019² (partner - competitor - systemic rival). This approach has served to address the different aspects of this complex relationship, through a period when economic and political relations have required flexibility and agility. It also kept open the space for bilateral engagement on matters of common or global interest, such as environment and climate issues. In recent years, the rivalry and competition aspects of the relationship have become more prominent. EU-China relations have been affected by disproportionate countersanctions (following the March 2021 EU human rights-related listings), cases of economic coercion and China's increased convergence with Russia. The President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, outlined in March 2023 the EU's approach to China, which focuses on reducing vulnerabilities and increasing resilience through de-risking (as opposed to de-coupling). Continuing to consolidate unity across all aspects of the relationship remains crucial for the EU's capacity to maintain credibility and leverage. At the same time, EU unity should aim at balancing realistic and robust engagement with well-managed systemic rivalry and competition with China in support of core EU interests and values. This includes keeping channels of communication open and continuing to work with China in support of bilateral and global interests (e.g. climate change, environment, debt sustainability, global health, nuclear non-proliferation, regional security) and shared international commitments. These messages were also echoed in President von der Leyen's visit to China in April 2023, where she in particular called for China to take a greater responsibility in the way towards a just peace in Ukraine and urged China to address imbalances in the trade and economic relationship."}, {"bbox": [86, 1443, 1145, 1548], "category": "Text", "text": "China is the world's largest emitter of carbon dioxide and responsible for more than a quarter of the world's overall greenhouse gas emissions. Its domestic production and consumption patterns make China one of the largest contributors to imported deforestation. China's growing foreign investments also place it in a prime position to influence environmental outcomes of economic activities in third countries. Working with China is critical to"}, {"bbox": [86, 1595, 251, 1618], "category": "Footnote", "text": "² JOIN/2019/5 final"}, {"bbox": [1038, 1682, 1144, 1706], "category": "Page-footer", "text": "Page 4 of 26"}]