EU Trade Commissioner says EU, China trade to hit record in 2012

HONG KONG: Bilateral trade between China and the European Union will hit a new record this year, EU Trade Commissioner Karl De Gucht said in Hong Kong on Thursday.

Bilateral trade in goods between the European Union and China in 2010 was 395 billion euros ($516 billion) and 428.3 billion euros in 2011, De Gucht said at the Foreign Correspondent's Club in Hong Kong.

"This year we will set new records," he added.

A Chinese government spokesperson said on Thursday that Beijing is very worried about the dim trade outlook, although it was too early to predict if exports and imports will fall this year.