On the website of the Ministry of Commerce on April 30, a reporter asked: China-EU investment agreement negotiations have been held for 28 rounds. What is the progress of the negotiations of the Ministry of Commerce? What positive progress has been made? Under the epidemic, can the goal of ending negotiations within the year be achieved? Gao Feng said that China and the EU just concluded the 28th round of China-EU investment agreement negotiations held by video last week. The two sides held consultations on the text of the agreement and the list bid, and made positive progress.

Although the current global epidemic situation has brought inconvenience to the negotiations between the two sides, the goal of China and the EU to conclude negotiations this year according to the leaders ’requirements has not changed. With the joint efforts of both parties, the negotiations have been actively advancing. At present, the two sides have agreed on the negotiation arrangements for the next few months, and a round of negotiations will be held every month to try to conclude the negotiations on time.

China is willing to work together with the EU to reach a high-level agreement as early as possible in accordance with the important consensus reached by the leaders of the two sides, and to safeguard multilateralism and the free trade system with practical actions. Promote China-EU economic and trade relations to a higher level in the new situation.

(Originally titled: “The Ministry of Commerce Holds a Regular Online Press Conference (April 30, 2020)”)