BRUSSELS, March 30: EU Industry Commissioner Guenter Verheugen will visit China next week for talks on economic relations as part of plans for a new partnership pact, the European Commission said on Friday.

Verheugen, who is also a vice-president of the EU's executive arm, was due to meet with high-level politicians during his trip to Beijing from Sunday to Wednesday, it said.

The German commissioner would raise such issues as energy efficiency and climate change, improving cooperation on regulatory issues, the economy, technology, consumer protection and safety.

China and the EU launched negotiations in January on broadening an existing economic and commercial treaty into other fields such as the environment.—AFP