File photo of  Mikael Lindstrom, Swedish ambassador to China (SWEDENABROAD.COM)

The European Union (EU) will focus on promoting decent business practices and efforts to tackle climate change in China in the second half of this year, said the Swedish ambassador to China, whose country currently holds the rotating presidency of the EU.

"During the autumn, we are planning a series of events to deal with essentially two themes," Ambassador Mikael Lindstrom said at a press conference in Beijing on July 8. "The first is about how European and Chinese companies work together and individually to promote responsible business behavior. The other theme in our activities will be climate change."

European environmental officials will hold talks in mid July with Chinese officials including Vice Minister of the National Development and Reform Commission Xie Zhenhua, the top Chinese official in charge of climate change negotiations, Lindstrom said.

The EU will also sponsor a gathering of young people from around the world from late November to early December in Tangshan, Hebei Province, with the theme of enhancing environmental protection awareness. It will also hold events in different Chinese cities including Hangzhou, Chongqing and Harbin in the coming months to celebrate responsible business conduct.

The next China-EU summit will be held in Beijing toward the end of November, Lindstrom said.

Sweden took over the EU presidency from the Czech Republic on July 1. It has set a number of priorities for its six-month tenure including addressing the global financial crisis, coping with climate change and promoting the EU's institutional development.