EU foreign ministers extended on Monday in Brussels their hope for "timely" conclusion of its talks with China on the new framework agreement.

"The (EU) Council looks forward to the timely conclusion of negotiations of the new comprehensive agreement," said a conclusion document issued by the foreign ministers' meeting.

At the Ninth EU-China Summit in September in Helsinki of Finland, China and the EU agreed to launch the talks on the agreement, or the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement in the EU terminology, which is aimed to replace the current trade-focused one signed as early as in 1985.

"The (EU) Council welcomes the agreement in September 2006 to launch negotiations on a single and over-arching Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (PCA) as the practical basis for the comprehensive strategic partnership," said the document.

The ministers noted that the future pact should encompass the " full scope of the bilateral relationship, including further strengthening of cooperation in political, trade and investment issues."

Earlier in October, European Commission, the EU's executive, issued a policy paper on the EU-China relations titled "EU-China, closer partners, growing responsibilities," which has set the priorities for the future agreement.

Speaking at a press conference after the meeting, EU external relations commissioner Benita Ferrero-Waldner will visit China on January 16 and formally launch the talks on the PCA.

Source: Xinhua