EU and Chinese officials have agreed to meet in Brussels for "urgent" talks on China's export controls on rare earths.

Axar.az, citing The Economic Times, reports that EU trade chief Maros Sefcovic said after speaking to his Chinese counterpart on Tuesday.

The world's leading producer of the minerals used to make magnets, crucial to the auto, electronics and defence industries, China this month announced new controls on the export of rare-earth technologies.

"I appreciate today's constructive discussion during which we agreed to intensify contacts at all levels," Sefcovic said after a video call with China's Wang Wentao that lasted nearly two hours.