BRUSSELS, Dec. 29 (CNA) - EU member states gave political backing to Brussels' planned investment pact with China on Monday (Dec 28), clearing the way for a deal between the world's biggest economic blocs.

At a meeting of ambassadors, the German EU presidency noted that no member had "raised a stop sign and the way for a political endorsement was thus cleared", a diplomat said.

The diplomats noted "recent positive developments" in negotiations, with China reportedly addressing concerns over the alleged use of forced labour on its farms.

This came after the Chinese foreign ministry said last week that "negotiations have entered the final stretch" - and a second EU diplomat said an agreement could now be formally announced this week.

"We have to be careful, but as long as China is in agreement, there could be an official announcement from Brussels and Beijing by the end of the week," the senior envoy told AFP.

No member state intervened at the meeting to block the accord, but afterwards Poland's ambassador Andrzej Sados said he had "expressed our doubts" after Germany added it to the agenda.

The deal would be a major boost for both sides and strengthen economic ties between the giants before the arrival of US president-elect Joe Biden in the White House in January.

Outgoing US leader Donald Trump has engaged in a trade war with China but his successor has also expressed concern about the EU outreach, with his team urging Brussels to consult with Washington.

"The new administration in the US is starting work in three weeks ... and an agreement with China should take into account the EU's relations with the US," Sados told the Polish PAP news agency.

"We also said that we shouldn't act too hastily after seven years of tough negotiations. Meanwhile, such an item is suddenly added to the EU ambassadors' meeting agenda in Brussels. This is unheard of."

"In the last days of the German presidency we are dealing with a sudden and unjustified acceleration regarding a very important issue, which concerns international relations."

The bloc's leading economic power Germany, which holds the rotating EU presidency until the end of the year, has made securing the deal a priority of its time at the helm.

The European Commission, the EU executive, had said before Christmas that the draft of the "political agreement" was "95 per cent ready" and just needed the capitals' green light.

China's commitment to labour rights had remained a hurdle, but Europe has long sought greater access to the huge Chinese market for its companies.