China and the European Union have agreed to hold a new round of trade talks to pave the way for a high-level leaders’ summit next month, but analysts said it remained to be seen whether the two sides could resolve the impasse in their bilateral economic relations.
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The talks were announced by the European Commission following a meeting between China’s commerce minister, Wang Wentao, and EU trade chief Maros Sefcovic on the sidelines of a World Trade Organization event in Paris on Tuesday.
They are expected to lay the groundwork for a high-level summit slated for late July in Beijing, where European leaders will meet with President Xi Jinping.
“The two sides held focused, candid and in-depth discussions on pressing and important issues related to China-EU economic and trade cooperation,” China’s Ministry of Commerce said in a statement on Wednesday.
“They also tasked their respective working teams to intensify efforts in preparing for this year’s key bilateral agenda on the economic and trade front,” it added.
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Meanwhile, an EU spokesperson said on Tuesday that the bloc’s “overall objective remains to rebalance our trade and investment relationship with China and level the playing field”.