EU ambassador regrets lack of progress with China on trade

Jorge Toledo, the European Union's ambassador to China speaks during a press conference in Beijing, May 9, 2023. [AP Photo]

The European Union's ambassador to China expressed regret on Sunday over the lack of "substantial progress" with Beijing on trade talks, as EU countries seek to reduce their economic dependence on the Asian giant.

The European Commission has suspended its efforts to get member states and parliament to ratify an investment agreement reached with China at the end of 2020, after seven years of talks, following differences over human rights in the Muslim-majority region of Xinjiang.