File:Shi Guangsheng and Leon Brittan.tif

English: On 11 June 1998, China and the EU held their annual high-level trade negotiations. The meeting concerned a large range of bilateral trade matters. The two parties also had in depth discussions on the accession of China to the WTO. Shi Guangshen, Chinese Minister for Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation, and Sir Leon Brittan, Vice-President of the EC in charge of External Relations with North America, Australia, New-Zealand, Japan, China, Korea, Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan, Common Commercial Policy and Relations with OECD and WTO, also signed financial agreements relating to four projects with the aim of promoting the economic independence of the ethnic communities of Tibet and to improve professional training and the environment in China. They also signed a Memorandum of Understanding, thanks to which the EU will aid China in constructing a strong financial sector, in the wake of the Asian financial crisis.