Discours d'introduction du Président du CESE lors de la 11e table ronde UE-Chine

The two topics we will be debating during the round table are very crucial ones. One of them concerns demography, the ageing population, and how to transform a challenge into an opportunity. Having a significant number of people over 60 in the population has always been seen as a burden. Should we not, on the contrary, see it as an opportunity to explore new paths for sustainable economic development? Our two rapporteurs will tell us how they see this.

The other topic is sustainable urban development; a major topic for our bilateral relations and a major topic for civil society. I think we should examine ways in which we can follow up our work on cities and integrate it into ongoing initiatives launched at the summit by the China-EU partnership on sustainable urbanisation.

The European Economic and Social Committee believes that the 2012 United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development must send out a clear signal to the world community, with specific proposals for the transition to an economic order based on qualitative economic growth. This growth must help to eliminate poverty and social injustice whilst preserving natural resources for the future. We look forward to joining our voices to those of our partners from China and other important players in the world, with a view to sending together a strong message to the Rio Summit on June 19.

Both topics are very specific, have a huge direct impact on civil society in China and in Europe and are at the top of our authorities' agendas.

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EESC President opening speech at the 11th China- EU Round Table

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