Negotiations on an investment agreement between China and the European Union were formally launched in November 2013. The 35th round took place from December 6 to 11, 2020. On December 30, 2020, the two sides concluded the talks in principle. A Chinese report called the negotiations a seven-year “long run” (长跑).
On May 20, 2021, the European Parliament voted to freeze work on the agreement until China lifted its sanctions.