Information about Sino-EU talks over textile trade is mixed. With the discussion stretching into the second day, no body can tell how far the two parties have gone toward a resolution to solve the trade dispute.

An official of the Chinese Ministry of Commerce said here that officials from the two parties have left for another event, not clarifying whether or not the talks have been over.

Earlier in the afternoon, EU Trade Commissioner Peter Mandelson was quoted by an overseas media as saying that the talks was over. But soon afterward, another media said the talks still goes on.

Mandelson and Chinese Minister of Commerce Bo Xilai started talks on Sunday, a day ahead of the EU-China Summit here, and continued Monday morning.

Millions of Chinese textile items including sweaters, trousers, blouses, T-shirts, bras are being blocked in European ports because they exceed import quotas agreed to by both sides in June.

During Monday's talks, Mandelson left for the EU-China Business Summit and gave a speech in the afternoon. At the summit, Mandelson said the EU respects and pursues the principle of free trade through engagement in the international cooperation.

During the process this June which led to the Shanghai agreement on textile trade, Mandelson said, both China and EU dealt with the problem cooperatively and constructively.

It proves that China is a responsible and valuable partner, he said.

Mandelson acknowledged that free trade has lifted millions out of poverty in the world, and it will do the same in Asia.

He expressed the belief that China and European Union (EU) will resolve their textile trade problem in a spirit of dialogue. China and EU's disputes over textile trade is just at the beginning and it is a normal occurrence between big trading partners, Mandelson said.

Source: Xinhua