China » International Relations

Membership of International Groupings/ Organisations International Monetary Fund (IMF) International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO) World Tourism Organisation (WTO) World health Organisation (WHO) United Nations (UN)

China's Relations with the International Community

The PRC took over the China seat at the United Nations from Taiwan in 1971. Since the launch of its ‘open door policy' in 1978 China has begun to take a more active role in international organisations. The repression of the democracy movement in 1989, however, led to a chill in relations between the West and China. In recent years, China has generally pursued amicable relations with its neighbours and with the West. Diplomatic relations were restored or 'normalised' in the early 1990s with countries in South East Asia such as Indonesia and Vietnam.

The British Government's broad objectives are

• To encourage and support China's closer integration into the international system (including economic, financial and trade structures) as a responsible and friendly partner, and to encourage a constructive approach to international security issues and global challenges such as the environment, drugs, terrorism and AIDS;
• To help China deliver economic reform and eradicate poverty;
• To promote positive change in human rights, with a particular emphasis on promoting the rule of law;
• To advance our commercial interests;
• To fulfil our political and moral obligations to the people of Hong Kong.

EU-China Relations 

From 1 July to 31 December 2005 the UK serves as EU Presidency.

The EU’s China policy objectives are:

• To engage China further, both bilaterally and on the world stage, through an upgraded political dialogue.
• To support China's transition to an open society based upon the rule of law and respect for human rights.
• To encourage the integration of China in the world economy through bringing it fully into the world trading system, and supporting the process of economic and social reform that is continuing in China.
• To raise the EU's profile in China.