The European Commission, the executive arm of the European Union (EU), says it will start negotiations aimed at ambitious air agreements with China and Russia. 

In a strategic approach to develop external aspect of the EU aviation market, the Commission said that it would seek the EU governments' authorization to start "open skies" agreement with China and Russia.

The Commission also wishes to create a common airspace with neighboring countries by 2010.

Commission Vice-President Jacques Barrot said in a statement that Europe's capacity to build new markets, in relationships of trust with its partners, will give air traffic worldwide a major boost.

He said the Chinese market is especially appealing ahead of the 2008 Olympics.

An EU-China summit on aviation will be organized in Beijing in June.

(CRI.com March 15, 2005)