EU becomes China's biggest trading partner

The EU has leap-frogged the US and Japan to become China's biggest trade partner, according to Chinese media.

Officials from the Chinese trade ministry, quoted by the China's People Daily, say that China has also become the EU's second largest trading partner after the US.

In the year up to November, trade volumes between the EU and China reached 159.3 billion dollars - up 34.7 percent on the same period in 2003.

The UK, the Netherlands, France, Germany and Italy are the main trading partners, according to the paper, accounting for 72 percent of Europe's trade with Beijing.

However, disputes between the EU and China remain, including over the ban on Chinese arms sales. The EU also wants greater market access to China.