China, European Union to step up talks to seal an investment treaty

Both sides determined to surpass speed of US treaty negotiations

Negotiations on an investment treaty between China and the European Union "is still at the beginning stage", a senior official said on Thursday, but both sides are committed to achieving the level of or surpassing the progress of Sino-United States investment treaty talks.

"As Brussels supervises the investment policies of the 28 members, an overall investment pact between China and the EU will have very significant influence on Chinese investment in the bloc," Sun Yongfu, general director for European Affairs of China's Ministry of Commerce, told reporters.