China EU WTO negotiations have made substantial pr

Substantive progress has been made in China EU WTO negotiations it was learned from the Ministry of foreign trade and economic cooperation that the Chinese government and the European Commission yesterday concluded two and a half days of bilateral negotiations on China's accession to the WTO. The Chinese delegation was led by long Yongtu, Vice Minister of the Ministry of foreign trade and economic cooperation, and the EU delegation was led by Hans Friedrich Bessel, director general of the General Department of trade of the European Commission. The two sides discussed important issues of market access, including tariffs and quotas for industrial products and tariffs and tariff quotas for agricultural products. The two sides also had a full day's discussion on trade in services and negotiated on some key issues, including telecommunications, financial services (banking, insurance, securities), brokerage, distribution, tourism and professional services (lawyers and accountants). The two sides also discussed some cross sectoral issues, including trade-related investment measures, state-run trade and national treatment. The negotiations were conducted in a positive and constructive atmosphere. Through the joint efforts of both sides, substantive progress has been made in the negotiations. However, there are still some important problems that need to be solved. To this end, the two sides agreed to hold another round of technical level consultations in Beijing in late February. According to the further progress made in the consultations, Pascal Lamy, member of the European Commission in charge of trade, is going to Beijing for talks with shiguangsheng, Minister of foreign trade and economic cooperation, with a view to reaching an agreement between China and the EU on China's accession to the WTO as soon as possible. Antony Gucci, spokesman of the European Commission in charge of trade, announced at the press conference on the 26th that the just concluded bilateral negotiations between China and the EU on China's accession to the WTO have made substantial progress. He said that the EU hopes to conclude a new round of technical level consultations as soon as possible and strive to sign relevant agreements in Beijing as soon as possible. Tens of thousands of employees in Cuba said that, as stated in the joint communique between Europe and China, the two sides agreed that a number of factors led to a significant increase in imports of non-ferrous metals in February. In the latter half of the year, they held another round of technical level consultations on some important issues in Beijing. However, the substantive progress achieved so far in the negotiations has ensured the final signing of the agreement. Gucci also said that Pascal Lamy, European Commission Commissioner in charge of trade, is ready to go to Beijing. He said that according to the progress of the next round of technical level consultations, Lamy hoped to fly to Beijing as soon as possible to hold talks with Shi Guangsheng, Minister of foreign trade and economic cooperation, and sign the EU China Agreement on China's accession to the WTO. Pascal Lamy, member of the European Commission in charge of trade affairs, said on the 25th that the EU will try its best to launch a new round of global multilateral trade negotiations as soon as possible. Lamy said that the European Commission will discuss the new plan with 15 EU Member States and the European Parliament in a few weeks and strive to put forward relevant proposals to the WTO within one month