Strasbourg, 10th February 2015 - West Midlands Conservative MEP Daniel Dalton has questioned EU Trade Commissioner Cecilia Malström at a meeting in Strasbourg about the timetable and scope of a joint investment agreement with China.
Highlighting the recent successes of West Midlands businesses in China and the launch of direct flights to Beijing following the opening of the expanded runway at Birmingham Airport in 2014, Mr Dalton called on the Commission to aim for an ambitious deal that could bring further growth to the region's links with the rapidly growing Chinese market. Commissioner Malström agreed that the agreement had potential to be a stepping stone to a broader full trade deal in the future.
Speaking at the meeting, Mr Dalton said:
"In my region of the West Midlands, the manufacturing heartland of the United Kingdom, we are making huge strides in entering the Chinese market, helped by the launch of direct flights to Beijing from Birmingham airport."
"Whilst the achievements of West Midlands businesses so far are impressive, can you assure me that a joint investment agreement with China will be concluded soon?"
"This agreement, if sufficiently broad in scope, has the potential to help drive further growth in EU-China trade and pave the way for a comprehensive free trade deal in the future."
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