China to send new purchase teams to Europe

She also called on China to open up and tackle problems that European businesses say hold them back in their fastest growing export market. Companies are keen to see China do more to clamp down on copyright goods that they claim cost them a fifth of potential revenue.

"We should seek to address imbalances in business opportunities and confirm that we all profit from further opening of our markets," Ashton said.

Wang also called on the EU to relax restrictions on exporting hi-tech goods to China and help small businesses in both regions trade with each other.

He asked EU officials to understand China's "national conditions and its level of development" and the progress it has made toward opening up its market, improving safety and fighting counterfeiting.

The EU is China's largest trading partner and technology supplier. It is also the fourth largest source of investment for China, while China is the EU's second largest trading partner.