Closer EU-China cooperation expected following Beijing’s opening-up pledge

A senior European politician is expecting closer cooperation with China after Beijing vows to further advance opening-up in its latest government work report.

Jan Zahradil is Vice Chairman of the European Parliament’s International Trade Committee. He suggests China’s move could help accelerate the talks on a bilateral investment agreement.

„The most interesting for the European Union and other overseas entities is a call for opening China to foreign investment, which in the light of the EU-China investment agreement, is of an upmost importance. I still believe we can proceed with that agreement and hopefully finalize it very soon afterwards,“ said Jan Zahradil.

China is to significantly shorten its negative list for foreign investment this year, further stabilize foreign trade and actively leverage the role of foreign capital.

Zahradil suggests healthcare could be a major area in further bilateral cooperation, calling on both sides to strengthen exchange of information, technology and knowledge in this regard.