The European Union (EU) and China are due to start their bilateral talks on January 24 for China's accession to the World Trade Organization (WTO).

China's Deputy Minister for Trade and chief WTO negotiator, Long Yongtu, arrived here Saturday for the two-day technical talks. He will lead his team to meet the EU executive's negotiating team led by Hans-Friedrich Beseler from Monday to Tuesday.

EU Surces said if these technical talks are successful, EU commissioner Pascal Lamy and China's Trade Minister Shi Guangsheng could meet to tie up the more political elements of the bilateral deal.

However, the EU Commission negotiators have cautioned against expecting instant results when they resume talks with their Chinese counterparts on Monday. The EU executive has a varied set of demands to make to the Chinese side, and EU officials insist they will not sacrifice efficiency for speed.

China has already secured WTO deals with the United States, Canada and Japan, the world's major trade powers, but still has to negotiate with the EU and some others, including European, Latin American and Asian WTO members.