The Commission held its second High-level Digital Dialogue with China. Co-chaired by Vera Jourova, Vice-President for Values and Transparency, and Vice-Premier of China, Zhang Guoqing, this dialogue hosted in Beijing covered key issues such as platforms and data regulation, Artificial Intelligence, research and innovation, cross-border flow of industrial data, or the safety of products sold online. The Commissioner for Justice and consumer rights, Didier Reynders, also participated in the discussions by video message.
Both parties engaged in a thorough discussion on crucial areas of digital policy and technologies. The Commission provided an update of EU regulatory developments including the Digital Services Act and the Digital Markets Act.
Both sides exchanged views about Artificial Intelligence (AI). The Commission presented developments on the Artificial Intelligence Act and stressed the importance of an ethical use of this technology in full respect of universal human rights, in the light of recent UN reports.
The Commission reiterated its support for global and interoperable Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) standards and urged the Chinese authorities to ensure a fair, reciprocity-based business environment in the digital field.
It also conveyed its concern about the difficulties faced by EU companies in China to make use of their industrial data, as a result of the application of recent legislation. Discussions on this matter will continue at the High-level Economic Dialogue with a view to finding concrete solutions.
The Commission explained its de-risking approach under the European Economic Security Strategy, which consists in mitigating risks to its supply chains, critical infrastructures and technology security.
As regards the safety of products, the Commission and China welcomed the signature of the Action Plan on the safety of products sold online.
The objective of the Action Plan is to further enhance dialogue and cooperation between the European Commission and the General Administration of China Customs (GACC). Both parties have agreed to rapidly exchange information on unsafe products sold online; organise regular workshops to exchange information and knowledge on laws, regulations and best practices and organise specific awareness-raising and training activities on EU product safety rules for companies selling online.
China shared updates on their policies and practices in the digital domain. Both parties agreed to continue discussions at technical level, by resuming the China-EU ICT Dialogue.
Find more here: https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/ip_23_4488
Posted by ENRICH in China Team on 14-Feb-2024 14:30
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