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.
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.
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”.
