Commerce Ministry: Some Progress On CAI

China's Global Times is reporting that some progress is being made on the EU-China Comprehensive Investment Agreement (CAI), which has been in the deep-freeze since May. MEPs had refused to ratify the agreement, citing concerns about China's legal and human rights records in Hong Kong and Xinjiang province respectively.

• The Global Times reports comments from Gao Feng, spokesman at the Ministry of Commerce, stating that both sides are 'undertaking a legal review, translation, and other technical preparations' for the CAI.
• Comments come after a joint call between Chinese President Xi Jinping, French President Emmanuel Macron, and German Chancellor Angela Merkel earlier in the week. Chinese media reported comments from the call stating that Macron "supports the conclusion of the EU-China investment deal", and that Merkel "hopes that the EU-China Investment Agreement will be approved as soon as possible."