中国与欧洲之间的往来沟通，始于大约三千年前的遥远古代。那时中国和欧洲各自独立地进入文明的时代，彼此之间产生了联系沟通的愿望，而且在历史上留下了断断续续、模糊不清的交往记录。这种交往，对于双方文明的发展都产生了积极推动的作用。
在一千八百年前即公元二世纪时，中欧交往在历史上留下了准确的记录，166年罗马皇帝马可·奥勒留的使臣经海路到达中国，向东汉皇朝传达问讯。这是具有划时代意义的事件，意味着中欧双方官方直接进行接触并留下了信史。此后一千五百年间这种交往缓慢地发展，但却顽强地进取，赢得不少丰厚的成果。1271年马可·波罗出使元朝，可以说是其中最负有盛名并产生了深远影响的一次中欧之间文明的接触。
再往后，中欧之间就进入更加紧密的往来沟通的时代，中国的文化成就不断地传往欧洲，几度在欧洲形成中国热，而欧洲的科学思想也传到中国，形成巨大的影响。这种双向交流难以做到完全平衡的发展，但基本上是平等进行的，给双方都带来巨大的利益。
在近代历史上，由于欧洲进入资本主义时期并在世界范围内开展殖民主义的活动，中欧交往开始了一个不平等的阶段。中国处在相对弱势，曾经濒临覆亡的边缘，这激起中国先进知识分子发愤图强的热情，更加努力地学习欧洲先进文化，并向往着能有平等交往的时代重新降临。
1949年10月1日，中国踏上为实现现代化而奋斗的长征，1950年5月9日，欧洲开始举世瞩目的一体化进程。这两个伟大的运动之间逐渐建立起友好的联系。这种联系继承了漫长古老的历史传统，并且以中国与欧洲联盟关系的崭新面貌出现在世界舞台之上。到二十世纪九十年代，随着亚欧之间友好合作关系的建立和发展，中国与欧盟也携手进入了彼此平等交流的历史新时代。
回顾久远的历史，我们看到中欧之间交往沟通从一开始就是充满艰辛的事业，曾构成人类文明最早的开拓性篇章。以后，它一直是东西方文明交流的主干。在二十世纪末世界格局走向多极化，中国和欧盟建立全面伙伴关系又成为当代国际关系发展的重要事件。中国政府高度重视发展与欧洲的紧密交往，重视欧盟在国际事务中的影响和作用，希望在平等互利的基础上积极合作，推动人类发展，维护世界和平。
我们作为以实现中欧交往为历史责任的民间团体的代表，在二十一世纪初始之年，有感于悠久历史传统赋予我们发扬光大的责任和人类进步提到我们面前应该解决的课题，决定发起成立一个以在中国与欧盟之间开展民间友好合作为宗旨的群众团体，定名为中国欧盟协会。
它的主要任务是：
（一）推动双方的人员往来与信息交流；
（二）研究对方的发展状况并向对方介绍中国的发展状况；
（三）从事加强双方政治了解的活动；
（四）推动双方经济合作与文化交流；
（五）推动双方在科技、教育、环保等专业领域的互利合作；
（六）推动双方地方政府和城市之间建立友好合作关系；
（七）增进双方人民之间的理解、信任和友谊；
（八）建立二十一世纪双方的良好关系以实现共同发展。
我们还要关注世界形势及中欧关系发展的走向，按照需要及时增添协会的工作内容。争取中欧民间合作不断开创新的局面，这就是我们奋斗的光荣目标。
二十一世纪是人类进步历史上的崭新阶段，世界格局走向多极化，而中国和欧盟作为世界政治舞台上两支重要的力量，正在国际事务中发挥巨大的影响。我们真诚地希望中国和欧盟之间进行亲密合作，共同为世界和平和人类发展作出贡献，中国与欧盟也将迎来更加繁荣的新时代，我们愿意为此而做出真诚的富有成效的努力。
让我们共同拥抱新世纪和平发展的美好未来。我们期待着中欧双方社会各界朋友的支持与帮助，相信我们的工作将书写中欧合作新的篇章，并且在人类走向进步的历史中留下永远的辉煌。
中国欧洲协会于北京
（2001年11月11日）
Declaration of the Establishment of
China-EU Association
The contact between China and Europe can be traced back to about 3,000 years when both China and Europe, after entering the age of civilization independently, had the desire of knowing each other. Though there are only vague fragments in historical record, the contacts have promoted the progress of the two civilizations.
An accurate record can be found about such contacts about 1,800 years ago, or in other words, in the 2nd century. In 166, the Emperor of Rome, sent his envoy from sea to China which was in its Eastern Han Dynasty. This was an epoch-making event, since it started the direct official contact between China and Europe and was recorded in history. The contacts in the subsequent 1,500 years developed slowly, yet steadily and fruitfully. In 1217, Marco Polo went to China when it was in Yuan Dynasty. This event was the most famous contact between the cultures of China and Europe and has produced far-reaching influence in history.
In the succeeding years, there were more frequent contacts between China and Europe. On the one hand, the cultural fruits of China were brought to Europe, forming the China heat for several times. On the other hand, the science and ideology of Europe also spread to China, producing great influence. Generally speaking, though this two directional contact did not develop evenly, it moved forward on the basis of equality, producing enormous benefits to both sides.
In recent history, there was a period of inequality in the contacts between China and Europe as a result of Europe’s entering the stage of capitalism and its practice of colonialism in the entire world. China was at the time in a relatively weak position and nearly on the verge of destruction. This fact forced the Chinese intellectuals to seek ways for the country’s prosperity and study more about the advanced culture of Europe and they looked forward to a new time of equal contact
On October 1, 1949, China began its long march to modernization. On May 9, 1950, Europe started its process of integration, attracting worldwide attention. A friendly tie was gradually established between these two great movements. As a continuity of the past tradition, this tie forged a new relation between China and Europe in the world arena. In the 1990’s, with the establishment and development of the friendly cooperation between Asia and Europe, China and the EU also joined their hands to enter a new historical period of equal contact.
Reviewing the past long history, it can be seen that the contact between China and Europe has been a cause full of hardships from the every beginning. It constituted the earliest pioneering chapters of the civilization of mankind and later became the main trunk of the contact between the eastern and western civilizations. At the end of the 20th century when the world becomes more multipolarized, the establishment of the all-round partnership between China and the EU is an important event in the current international relations. The Chinese Government attaches great importance to its close relations with Europe and to the influence and role of the EU in the international affairs and hopes for an active cooperation with EU on the basis of equality and mutual benefit to promote the development of mankind and safeguard world peace.
Now, in the first year of the 21st century, we, as the representatives of the civil groups that take China-Europe contact as a historical duty, understand more than ever that it is our responsibility to carry on the tradition of history and solve the problems arising from the progress of mankind. Hence our decision to establish a civil group that aims to develop the civil friendly cooperation between China and the EU and name it China-EU Association. Its main tasks are:
1. To promote the exchange of personnel and information between the two sides;
2. To make research on the development of the other side and introduce to them China’s development;
3. To undertake activities promoting the political understanding between the two sides;
4. To promote economic cooperation and cultural exchange between the two sides;
5. To promote mutually beneficial cooperation in the professional fields including science, technology, education, environmental protection, etc.;
6. To promote establishment of friendly cooperative relations between local authorities and cities of the two sides;
7. To enhance the understanding, trust and friendship between the two peoples;
8. To build good relations in the 21st century between the two sides to achieve common development.
We should also pay attention to the trend of the world situation and the development of the China-Europe relations so as to enrich the work of the Association accordingly. It is our glorious goal to open up continuously new prospects for the civil cooperation between China and Europe.
The 21st century opens a new stage in the history of the development of mankind. As the world is becoming more multipolarized, China and the EU are playing greater roles in the international affairs. We sincerely hope the two sides will cooperate more closely to make contributions to world peace and human progress. China and the EU will have a more prosperous new time. We are ready to make real and fruitful efforts to this end.
Let’s embrace together the beautiful future of peace and development in the new century. We expect the support and help from the friends of various fields form both China and Europe. And we believe that through our work we will be able to add a new chapter to the cooperation between China and Europe and leave a glory in the mankind’s history towards progress.
China-EU Association
Beijing, 11 November 2001.
