To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what she expects the (a) cost and (b) functions of the proposed EU European Centre in Beijing to be. (118709)

I understand the European Commission intends to launch a feasibility study in the coming weeks concerning the costs and functions of the European Centre in Beijing. Its broad focus will be to help EU small businesses in China by providing information on the Chinese market and legal advice; training for Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) and office rental for SMEs seeking to enter the Chinese market. There will also be a helpdesk which will provide advice to European SMEs on intellectual property issues.