China, EU 'should open investment treaty talks'

Negotiations expected to start this year; no timetable given

BRUSSELS / BEIJING - China and the European Union should quickly open talks on an investment treaty to provide a legal framework for investors from both markets, policy experts said.

They said a treaty could facilitate mergers and acquisitions by Chinese multinationals in Europe, while helping investors from Europe, where the domestic market is sluggish, to gain a larger market share in China.