EU ministers welcome China deal

European Union foreign ministers, meeting in Brussels, have welcomed the successful outcome of talks last week with China about opening their markets to each other.

An EU statement said it was a major step towards China joining the World Trade Organisation.

EU officials said moves to improve access to the lucrative Chinese insurance market would begin in three months.

The ministers are also considering a number of outstanding issues, including financial aid to the Balkans.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service