EU-China trade talks end

BRUSSELS, May 8 (UPI) -- A two-day summit on trade between the European Union and China drew to a close Friday, officials said.

Both the European bloc and China called the talks productive, The EU Observer reported.

A Chinese delegation of 12 ministers, led by Vice Premier Wang Quishan, took part in the discussions. The European Union delegation was headed up by EU Trade Commissioner Catherine Ashton.

"The message that we are sending to our businesses and our citizens is that we are working together in these difficult times," Ashton was quoted by the newspaper as saying.

Wang announced he would send a second delegation of Chinese companies to Europe on a multibillion-euro shopping trip.