13/06/2007 (Agence Europe) - During his visit to China (EUROPE 9443), Charlie McCreevy, European commissioner for the internal market, held discussion with the Chinese authorities on Peking's future offer involving its accession to the public procurement agreement at the World Trade Organisation (EUROPE 9357). Before leaving Peking on Tuesday 12 June McCreevy declared that the EU had expressed its expectations and was ready to help its Chinese partners in the preparation of their initial offer. He indicated that a Chinese delegation would visit Brussels before the summer to exchange experiences. The Commissioner said that the delegation was also expected to visit several member states to see how public procurement rules are implemented in practice by the governments of member states. According to a report in the Dowjones financial press, the Chinese director general at China's finance ministry, Zhan Jingtao, said that “despite the difficulties encountered in public procurement reform, the Chinese government will stick to its commitments and begin accession negotiations at the end of 2007”. The total value of the Chinese public procurement markets in 2006 exceeded 350 billion Yuan (€34.3bn). (mb)