The 21st round of China-European Union bilateral investment treaty (BIT) negotiations kicked off in Beijing Monday, according to the Ministry of Commerce (MOC).

This round is scheduled to last for five days.

The two sides will negotiate over the agreement text and list, and strive for positive headway, the MOC said.

The talks are one of China's most important trade and economic negotiations, which started the first round in 2013 and are expected to see a high-level agreement inked in 2020.