Brussels visit heralds closer trade ties for EU and China

With Vice-Premier Ma Kai, the highest official from Beijing to visit Brussels so far this year, concluding his trip at the European Union headquarters last week, China and the EU have started to iron out their differences and bring their strategic partnership to a higher level.

Observers say the two sides intended to use Ma's visit as a warm-up for another decade of closer partnership, as the nations mark the 10th anniversary of their Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.

The concrete outcome is the mutual recognition of the urgency of launching investment pact negotiations, which will hopefully be announced when Chinese and EU leaders gather in Beijing for their summit in November. And they believe closer trade and economic relations will help to boost multilateral trade and investment relations.