Leaders from EU and China seal long-awaited investment deal

A screen displays Chinese president Xi Jinping, top left, European Council president Charles Michel, top right, European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen, bottom right, French president Emmanuel Macron, bottom centre, and German chancellor Angela Merkel during an EU-China leaders’ meeting video conference at the European Council headquarters in Brussels (Johanna Geron, Pool Photo via AP)

Top EU officials and Chinese president Xi Jinping have concluded a business investment deal that will open up big opportunities to European companies but has the potential to irk the new US administration.

Amid concerns about the human rights situation in China, the EU said the seven-year-long negotiations were concluded in “principle” during a video conference involving Mr Xi, European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen and EU Council president Charles Michel.