The Council decided to authorise the Commission to open negotiations with the People's Republic of China on a partnership and cooperation agreement and approved negotiating directives to that end.
The aim is to establish an agreement encompassing all aspects of EU-China relations in order to further strengthen cooperation and trade and investment relations and to work for the integration of China into the international system.
The new agreement would replace the trade an economic cooperation agreement concluded in 1985 and co-exist with existing sectoral agreements. It would be based the respect for democratic principles and fundamental human rights, as laid down in the universal declaration on human rights and other instruments, as well as for the principle of the rule of law.
Under the agreement, the EU and China would hold dialogues aimed at promoting cooperation in all areas of mutual interest; they would undertake to remove barriers to trade and investment, promote sustainable development and cooperation with the aim of finding balanced solutions to global issues such as climate change.