China, EU agree to keep bilateral trade ties stable, hold next meeting in March 2027

BEIJING, Oct. 9 (Xinhua) -- China and the European Union (EU) have agreed to maintain stable bilateral economic and trade ties and make them more balanced, while scheduling March 2027 for their next meeting under a trade and investment consultation mechanism, according to a joint statement.

Flags of China and the European Union are seen in this photo. (Photo: VCG)

Published by China's Ministry of Commerce, the statement said that Chinese Minister of Commerce Wang Wentao and European Commissioner for Trade and Economic Security Maros Sefcovic held the second meeting of the China-EU trade and investment consultation mechanism from Thursday to Friday in Beijing.

The two sides engaged in pragmatic and productive discussions and agreed on a list of outcomes, according to the statement.

As key trading partners, China and the EU reaffirmed their commitment to properly handling their differences within the framework of World Trade Organization rules, and to keeping bilateral economic and trade ties stable and making them more balanced, the statement noted.

The two sides also agreed to hold the third meeting of the consultation mechanism in March next year and maintain close communication in the meantime, including through a ministerial video conference in January next year, the statement said.