In visit to China, OSCE PA President Muttonen highlights areas of mutual interest, future co-operation

BEIJING, 13 June 2017 – As part of her ongoing efforts to promote knowledge of the OSCE and its core principles in Eastern Asia, OSCE Parliamentary Assembly President Christine Muttonen, accompanied by Secretary General Roberto Montella, has held meetings this week in Beijing with representatives of the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Chinese People’s Institute of Foreign Affairs, the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation and the International Department of the Communist Party of China.

Among topics of discussion were China’s relations with the OSCE and with Europe, including in areas of mutual interest such as the economic and environmental dimension, and the fight against terrorism.

In a meeting with Qi Mei, Deputy Director of the Department of European Affairs of the MFA, the President was briefed on the outcomes of a recent EU-China Summit. Qi noted that EU-China co-operation is progressing well. President Muttonen stressed that China’s contribution worldwide and investments in the economic and environmental field, especially in the green economy, is appreciated.

Both Muttonen and Qi agreed that enhanced contacts between China and the OSCE could prove mutually beneficial, and discussed areas of further co-operation.

In a meeting with Wu Hailong, President of the Chinese People’s Institute of Foreign Affairs, Muttonen emphasized several areas of common interest to the OSCE and to China including migration, the fight against terrorism, economic and environmental development and climate change.

Wu and Muttonen also exchanged views on current global challenges including the Syrian conflict, the crisis in and around Ukraine and the situation on the Korean Peninsula. They also discussed ways of enhancing possible future co-operation between China and the OSCE PA.

Muttonen also met with Vladimir Potapenko, Deputy Secretary General of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, for discussions that touched on prospects for future co-operation between the SCO and the OSCE on issues of common interest, including the fight against terrorism, radicalization and extremism also through the SCO’s Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure in Tashkent.

Potapenko briefed Muttonen on the outcome of SCO’s recent summit in Astana noting the addition of India and Pakistan as full-fledged members of the SCO.

President Muttonen’s visit to Asia continues this week in Kazakhstan, where she will be meeting the political leadership of the country, participating in the opening of the OSCE pavilion at the 2017 EXPO and delivering a keynote speech at the Second Preparatory Meeting of the 25th OSCE Economic and Environmental Forum.

Muttonen was appointed as the Assembly’s Special Representative for Central and Eastern Asia in January 2016 by then-President Ilkka Kanerva (MP, Finland), and continues to serve in this capacity in her current position as OSCE PA President.