Mandelson urges China to step up role

China must shoulder more leadership in restoring global economic growth and fighting climate change, British Business Secretary Peter Mandelson said, also pressing Beijing on human rights.

In a speech to officials in Beijing, Lord Mandelson said an array of pressing international woes would be difficult to solve unless China gained more say and used that say cooperatively.

"China is at great pains to tread lightly as it grows," he said in his address at the Central Party School, a training ground for officials rising in China's ruling Communist Party. "But there is now no alternative to the full leadership role that its economic status deserves."

Lord Mandelson's call for China to become more of a player in solving global problems comes ahead of the next G20 summit in Pittsburgh on September 24 and 25, and during intensifying negotiations seeking a new climate change treaty.

Lord Mandelson served as EU Trade Commissioner, sparring with Beijing over disputes about textiles and other mounting Chinese exports, before returning to a heavyweight role in British politics.

He cited that trade experience to press Beijing to shoulder greater economic influence - but also use it in ways that Britain and other Western powers would welcome, especially in liberalising trade and expanding citizens' political rights.

He linked rights improvements to the possibility of lifting a European Union embargo on weapons sales to China, imposed in 1989 after pro-reform demonstrations in Beijing were crushed by armed troops.

China has criticised the ban as an obstacle to better ties with Europe, but EU member states have disagreed on lifting it.

"I think it's reasonable for us in Europe, if we're going to make a move on the arms embargo, that we see clear steps forward in individual and political rights and freedom of expression in China," Lord Mandelson said.

There is no immediate prospect of the EU dropping the ban, but Mr Mandelson's comments may stir discussion about the issue.

By taking a more active international role, China could also help push for progress in the long-stalled Doha round of trade negotiations, aimed at extending trade liberalisation under the World Trade Organisation, he said.

Beijing has been seeking a bigger say in the World Bank, International Monetary Fund and other global financial bodies in the wake of the world economic slump, arguing that its growing sway is not fairly reflected in their decision-making.

But Britain's Business Secretary also extended his call for China to shoulder more responsibility in fighting global warming, where his urging may not be so welcome in Beijing.

Negotiations to seal a new international pact on climate change come to a head in Copenhagen in December. China has sought to fend off Western pressure for it to offer faster and firmer steps to curb its rising greenhouse gas emissions, which have made it the world's biggest emitter of the gases from human activity that are behind global warming. China and other poor countries say rich countries, which historically caused most emissions, must act first in cutting them and giving more support to developing economies.

"If we allow these problems to become intractable, Copenhagen risks becoming an early and defining failure for the global era," said Lord Mandelson.