China-EU talks open on conciliatory note

At the start of the first Sino-European high-level economic and trade dialogue, the EU’s trade commissioner said that China has a commitment to trade and improving relations with the EU, the Financial Times reported. Peter Mandelson said Beijing had "recalculated" its approach to trade with the EU – China’s largest export market when counted collectively – and made "more of an effort" to engage with Europe over trade concerns. The inaugural meeting of the semi-annual trade talks focused on issues including trade imbalances, climate change, African development and intellectual property rights. European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso and new Chinese finance and trade minister Wang Qishan also attended the meeting.