During the third official Summit of the EU and China, Beijing cleared several obstacles to its WTO membership. Amongst others, the Chinese government pledged to allocate EU companies the seven insurance licences it had promised in May 2000. French President Jacques Chirac and Commissioner Lamy told the press that China might become full WTO member before the end of the year 2000.
The two countries also discussed human rights and trafficking in illegal immigrants. The EU has asked China to ratify two UN conventions on economic, social and cultural rights and on civil and political rights.