SHANGHAI, March 23 -- Chinese customers will enjoy "quite favorable" discounts on Sunday in European-based stores, such as IKEA, Swarovski and Carrefour, as the European Union celebrates its 50th anniversary.

Embassies from the countries of the European Union in China held a press conference in Beijing today to introduce a nationwide "Happy Birthday to the EU" activity, Eastday.com reported.

Other participants, including METRO, DHL, Hymart, Austria Airlines, Air France, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, will also offer souvenirs to their customers on that day.

Discounts will also involve some European hotels and restaurants in China.

The discounts cover more than 800 outlets of over 40 companies in 29 Chinese provinces.