Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing (R) and visiting EU Commissioner for External Relations Benita Ferrero-Waldner attend a joint press conference at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing January 17, 2007. [China Daily]
 
China and the EU yesterday announced the start of negotiations on a new agreement on expanding their strategic partnership.

Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing and visiting EU External Relations Commissioner Benita Ferrero-Waldner announced the initiative at a press briefing in Beijing.

The Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (PCA) will include 22 sectors in which the EU and China are already holding a dialogue. They include energy, the environment, agriculture, transport, education, and science and technology.

It will also cover such key issues as sustainable development, anti-terrorism and proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, Ferrero-Waldner told the briefing.