EESC President Luca Jahier pushes for cooperation on big data and sustainable development at EU-China Round Table in Shanghai

The President of the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC), Luca Jahier is in Shanghai for the 17th meeting of the EU-China Round Table, bringing together the EESC and the China Economic and Social Council (CESC).

"I see the contribution of the EU-China Round Table in the context of the overall relationship between the EU and China. Our role is to enhance the effectiveness of the partnership by providing informed and well-debated recommendations to the political authorities on both sides, with the joint aim to work together for peace, prosperity and sustainable development." Jahier said, opening the Round Table with his counterparts , Mr Du Qinglin, Chairman of the China Economic and Social Council (CESC) and Mr Zhou Bohua, Vice-Chairman of the CESC.

"However, I believe we can take our role one step further and add an extra dimension: that of following up on these recommendations and ensuring they result in concrete actions," he added.

The European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) maintains relations with the Chinese Economic and Social Council (CESC) since 2001, promoting exchanges between civil societies in the field of sustainable development, trade and investment. The cooperation between the EESC and the CESC has been explicitly recognised in the EU-China Strategic 2020 Agenda for Cooperation, adopted in 2013. 

Taking place in Shanghai, this year's EU-China Round Table focuses on big data, the digital revolution and its impact on society, as well as the Agenda ´2030 for Sustainable Development and the Paris Climate Agreement.

"Technological innovations are neither good nor bad. It is how we deal with the possibilities they offer, that will have either beneficial or detrimental outcomes. This is why we need to address the questions surrounding Big Data at the global level, framing it in international and national laws," President Jahier added.

Jahier reiterated that the EU and China shared commitments and interest in global sustainable development.  "The EU and China share common views in many areas. The ever-increasing interdependence in this globally connected world will put demands on us in terms of closer cooperation and face common challenges, such as Sustainable Development," the EESC President said, encouraging the Round Table to further expand its activities and take the lead internationally in the area of sustainable development.

"An alignment between China and the European Union concerning international solutions is nowhere more important than in leading the implementation of the Paris Climate Agreement and the 2030 Agenda on sustainable development, whose goals we are all committed to reach as a matter of great urgency – he added.

President Jahier is accompanied by a 13-member EESC delegation, including Dilyana Slavova (President of the External Relations Section), Stefano Palmieri (President of the Section for Economic and Monetary Union and Economic and Social Cohesion), Jacek Krawczyk, Oliver Röpke, Arno Metzler, respectively Presidents of the Employers', Workers' and Diversity groups and Graham Watson, honorary president and co-founder of Climate Parliament.

The EESC and the CESC will issue a joint statement with clear recommendations at the end of the two-day meeting in Shanghai.

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欧洲经济社会委员会主席卢卡·贾希尔(Luca Jahier)在上海举办的中欧圆桌会议上推动大数据和可持续发展方面的合作