China, EU to boost strategic partnership

Xi says both sides must pursue healthy, steady growth of their relationship

China and the European Union reaffirmed their goal of concluding talks on the bilateral investment agreement before year's end and agreed to bolster cooperation on green development and the digital sector during a leaders' meeting on Monday.

The meeting, held via video link, was co-chaired by President Xi Jinping, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, whose country currently holds the EU's rotating presidency, European Council President Charles Michel and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.

The two sides agreed to accelerate talks on the investment agreement. Negotiating teams have had 31 rounds of talks on the agreement since negotiations were launched in 2014.

China and the EU will establish a high-level dialogue on the environment and climate and work together in the digital sector to build green and digital cooperative partnerships, according to a decision at the meeting.