European leaders raise human right issues

Speaking at yesterday's opening of the biennial summit, all agreed on the importance and urgency of coordinated efforts between the two continents in addressing the global financial crisis.

European Commission (EC) President Jose Manuel Barroso said in his speech that respect for human rights was also important. The EC, the EU's executive body, is one of the 45 Asem partners.

French President Nicolas Sarkozy, who holds the rotating EU presidency, said social issues like human rights should be discussed.

Neither mentioned any country in particular, but the calls were made in the wake of a new controversy involving China's human-rights record.

The European parliament, which is the EU's directly elected parliamentary institution, decided to give its top human-rights prize to jailed Chinese dissident Hu Jia, a move that provoked an angry reaction from China.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao expressed strong dissatisfaction with the decision to issue such an award to a "jailed criminal" at a press conference on Thursday night, the eve of the Asem summit.

"It also violates universally recognised rules in the world, which is that countries should treat each other as equals and respect each other," he said.

The opening ceremony of Asem 7 took place in the Great Hall of the People, located next to Tiananmen Square, the venue of a massive pro-reform demonstration in 1989 that was crushed by a bloody crackdown.

Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jiabao said apart from the financial crisis, issues like energy and food security, the environment and natural disasters had become "more pronounced".

Chinese President Hu Jintao in his opening speech called for closer cooperation between Asia and Europe, albeit on an equal footing.

"The future of Asia and Europe is important for the future of the world," he said. "Let us join hands for a harmonious world and common prosperity."