China, EU seek early completion of PCA

Senior officials from China and the EU said on Thursday that they will try to complete talks on the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (PCA) as soon as possible.

A Chinese delegation led by Kong Quan, China's assistant foreign minister, met with their European counterparts led by European Commission external relations Director General Eneko Landaburu in Brussels yesterday.

Chinese officials said that a consensus has been reached on the guidelines, principles, framework and structure of the PCS talks.

The delegates also vowed to take an active, open and practical approach to accelerate negotiations and finalize the talks. The talks will form a solid legal basis for boosting China-EU strategic partnership.

China and the EU agreed to launch talks on the PCA last September. A visit by EU external relations commissioner Benita Ferrero-Waldner to China earlier this year formally launched the talks.