Li Zhongzhou remarked that: "Curbing pollution caused by manufacturing, improving water quality, using more renewable energy sources and improving energy efficiency are recognized priorities at the highest level of the Chinese government. The development of a more efficient international trade environment could actually accelerate such efforts by allowing the freer flow of sustainable technologies and services."

"Technologies for energy and environment applications already have a huge and growing market in China and one that European enterprises are well placed to develop, particularly in light of China's on-going government procurement reforms," Bartley added.

Li explained that China's 11th Five-Year-Plan (2006-2010) "really demonstrated the depth of the government's commitment to building a harmonious, resource-saving society and of achieving a balance between economic growth, social equality and environmental protection. China has put in place ambitious targets in this regard."

The EUCTP has been very active in supporting efforts to promote EU-China sustainable trade, for example in investigating the potential role of cross cutting sustainability policies across all trade sectors.

EUCTP experts have supported the launch of the EU-China sustainable trade task force, an initiative to enhance the contribution of trade to sustainable development, such as the facilitation of technology transfer agreements.

In addition to these broader policy developments the EUCTP has also worked on some practical on-the-ground initiatives such as the development of standards for the correct use of energy efficiency construction material in buildings in China.

A high level conference and a series of laboratory training activities have been held focusing on improving building standards for energy efficiency, construction design and quality of construction products and materials by assessing the performance and sustainability of buildings.

The training was important in defining China's own quality standards for building envelopes, particularly for glass. It has contributed to improving knowledge of testing standards and certification requirements for key construction products.

In addition, the EUCTP cooperated with the International Labor Organization in promoting CSR principles as the guidelines for good corporate governance initiatives particularly for social and environmental standards in labor-intensive export industries.

On technology transfer team leader Bartley said that while this is a hot topic it remains a sensitive one. "Enterprises will only invest in innovation and develop new technologies, and trade those technologies freely if IPR is fully protected within technology transfer or licensing agreements."

IPR protection too had been a top priority of the EUCTP between 2005-07, before the new IPR2 Project was launched by the EU and China. During that period EUCTP work, which had followed closely the EU-China IPR Dialogue and its working groups, has covered the full spectrum of IPR including copyrights and related rights management, trademarks protection, patents and design, IPR enforcement and the relationship between IPR and standards as well as IPR and competition.

"China's commitments under WTO TRIPS required the consolidation of its IPR regime in line with international norms and practices and has proved to be a major challenge within its overall reform agenda. Today China's legal basis for the protection of IPR basically conforms to international practices and standards," Bartley said.

"Increasing access to the Chinese Government Procurement market will also be important if foreign technologies are to be adopted on a large scale," he said.

When China joined the WTO in 2001 it agreed to start negotiations to accede to the Government Procurement Agreement (GPA) as soon as possible.

The EUCTP has implemented 10 technical assistance activities in Beijing, Shanghai and Shenzhen, explaining to Chinese officials Europe's experience within the GPA, the importance of transparency and an efficient procurement regime and the modalities for China's accession to the GPA.

EUCTP experts also made several recommendations for changes to China's national legislation to ensure consistency with the norms and requirements of the GPA.

The harmonization of China's regulatory framework with international practices is on-going.