P6_TA(2008)0362 Situation in China after the earthquake and before the Olympic Games European Parliament resolution of 10 July 2008 on the situation in China after the earthquake and before the Olympic Games The European Parliament, – having regard to its resolution of 22 May 2008 on the natural disaster in China1, – having regard to its resolution of 10 April 2008 on Tibet2, – having regard to its resolution of 13 December 2007 on the EU-China Summit and the EU-China human rights dialogue3, – having regard to the outcome of the 25th round of the EU-China Human Rights Dialogue in Brdo, Slovenia, on 15 May 2008, – having regard to Rule 103(4) of its Rules of Procedure, A. whereas both China and the EU are committed to contributing to peace, security and sustainable development in the world, B. having regard to the scale of the destruction wrought by the violent earthquake in Southwest China on 12 May 2008; whereas that earthquake claimed tens of thousands of victims, in particular in Sichuan province; whereas, according to the latest estimate, 10 million people were affected by the earthquake and almost 70 000 killed, including thousands of schoolchildren who died when their classrooms collapsed, C. whereas the Chinese Government took exceptional emergency measures, deploying personnel – including part of the army – and medical teams to aid the inhabitants of the stricken region, D. having regard to the extraordinary mobilisation and solidarity of the entire Chinese people and of the international community in efforts to aid the victims of the disaster, E. whereas the opening of Tibet to tourists and the media should not be used as a ‘public relations event’ but as a real opening, which will allow journalists, the media and tourists to visit the region of Tibet, F. having regard to the concluding statements of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), which underlined that granting the 2008 Olympic Games to China would help to open up the country and improve the human rights situation, 1. Expresses satisfaction at the developments in EU-China relations, the sectoral dialogues and 1 2 3 Texts adopted, P6_TA(2008)0232. Texts adopted, P6_TA(2008)0119. Texts adopted, P6_TA(2007)0622.