April 26 (Xinhua) -- The European Union (EU) said on Wednesday it would resume talks with China in mid-May on China's entry into the World Trade Organization (WTO).

Pascal Lamy, trade commissioner of the 15-nation bloc, said that the next round of talks with China aimed at completing a bilateral deal on China's accession to the WTO is scheduled for May 15 in Beijing.

The date for the fourth round of talks this year was agreed on Tuesday with Shi Guangsheng, Chinese Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation Minister, a spokesman of the commissioner said. Lamy has submitted a report to the European Commission, the executive body of the EU, and the European Parliament about the third round of talks held in Beijing at the end of last month. "We will now be able to bridge the gaps that remain," said the commissioner who expressed satisfaction at being able to renew talks "with the full backing of the 15 member states of the EU and the parliament."

Lamy added that both the EU and China had ample time to reflect on their respective positions since March.

The commissioner earlier urged flexibility from both sides to complete the entry talks, saying that China's entry into WTO would bring mutual interest to the EU and China.

The EU foreign ministers also agreed that it is of extreme importance to get China into the WTO.

After three rounds of talks this year in Brussels and Beijing, the remaining obstacles between the EU and China are believed to include the market access to China's telecommunications and life insurance sectors.