LONDON - A summit between the European Union and China, initially billed as the most consequential of its kind this year, has produced no major results, apart from intensified EU demands on Beijing to open up its markets and improve China's record on human rights.

"In the last 15 years, China has become much stronger economically and this means that the demand for reciprocity - for a level playing field - is of course very justified today," German Chancellor Angela Merkel, whose country holds the rotating presidency of the EU for the rest of this year, told the media after the virtual summit concluded on Monday (Sept 14) night.