The European Union (EU) on Friday agreed to open the first cluster of accession negotiations with Ukraine and Moldova on Monday, marking a significant step forward in the bloc's latest enlargement process.
In a joint statement, European Council President Antonio Costa and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said all EU member states have agreed to open the first accession negotiations cluster on fundamentals with the two candidate countries.
The negotiations, which will be formally opened on Monday, cover key areas including the rule of law and democratic institutions, the backbone of the EU accession process.
This is a recognition of the determination, courage and hard work shown by both countries in advancing reforms, even in the face of immense challenges, the statement said.
The two leaders stressed that enlargement is a strategic choice for the bloc, arguing that in an increasingly uncertain world, a larger EU is in the common interest of all Europeans.
EU to open first cluster of accession talks with Ukraine, Moldova
EU to open first cluster of accession talks with Ukraine, Moldova
China is ramping up its push for foreign investment by expanding market access during the 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-2030) period, with the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) targeting the services sector as a prime gateway for global capital.
At a roundtable meeting with senior executives of U.S. multinational companies in China, NDRC officials said the commission has identified key areas of the services sector where foreign enterprises can expect to enjoy broadened access.
"On the basis of a full assessment of existing pilot programs, China will continue to promote an orderly expansion of opening-up in sectors such as telecommunications, Internet, education, culture and healthcare, and steadily advance pilot opening-up programs in value-added telecommunications, biotechnology and foreign-owned hospitals. We will prudently expand the interconnection of financial markets, optimize the qualified foreign investor system, broaden the range of investable products, and advance cross-border two-way direct financing for eligible enterprises in an orderly manner," said Zhao Kun, deputy head of the NDRC's Department of Foreign Capital and Overseas Investment.
The country will also take action to boost domestic spending, a key area of interest for U.S. companies. At the roundtable, the commission announced that China will allocate the fourth batch of 62.5 billion yuan (about 9.3 billion U.S. dollars) in consumer goods trade-in programs this year.
"We treat all market players equally and actively support companies of all ownership types, registration locations and scales of operation in participating in China's equipment upgrade and consumer goods trade-in programs. We will, as always, continue to support U.S. enterprises in China in seizing opportunities, engaging in equipment upgrade and consumer trade-in programs, upgrading production equipment and facilities, and improving production and operational efficiency. We will also provide advanced equipment and products for other enterprises and consumers, so that they can share in the policy benefits," said Zhang Lupeng, deputy head of the Department of Resource Conservation and Environmental Protection of NDRC.
Officials also emphasized measures to improve China's overall business environment, highlighting plans to better facilitate foreign investment and optimize cross-border data flow management.
According to U.S. business advocacy groups, American companies operating in China welcome new opportunities to invest in the Chinese market.
"Innovation is one of the reasons that our members cite that they want to be here. China's just overall dynamic, we can see it in a number of sectors, but things like green innovation, specifically electronic vehicles (EVs), but also green energy. So it was interesting today we heard from a number of companies who have investment, who have recently made investment, who continue to be interested in the market because it looks like they will have more investment," said Michael Hart, president of the American Chamber of Commerce in China, after attending the round-table.
Expanded market access in China to attract foreign investment in services sector: officials
