File picture of China’s flag beside the European Union flag during a EU-China Summit at European Union Commission headquarters in Brussels. – AFPPIXEuropean Union member states gave political backing to Brussels' planned investment pact with China on Monday, clearing the way for a deal between the world's biggest economic blocs.
This came after the Chinese foreign ministry said last week that"negotiations have entered the final stretch" – and a second EU diplomat said an agreement could now be formally announced this week. Outgoing US leader Donald Trump has engaged in a trade war with China but his successor has also expressed concern about the EU outreach, with his team urging Brussels to consult with Washington.
The head of the EU chamber of commerce in Beijing Joerg Wuttke told AFP this month that negotiators had"apparently made great strides on market access". The EU states treat China as a"systemic rival" and have expressed concerns over China's rights record, especially its clampdown in Hong Kong and treatment of the Uighurs.