A European Parliament delegation has begun a three-day visit to China to meet senior officials in Beijing and Shanghai to manage strained ties amid escalating
, geopolitical uncertainty and expanding EU import curbs.
The eight-member delegation from the European Parliament’s Committee on Foreign Affairs, led by committee chairman David McAllister, arrived on Tuesday and is set to meet Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and the leadership of the National People’s Congress, according to a statement by the delegation of the EU to China on Monday.
The trip reflects a broader resumption of institutional exchanges, which were frozen in 2021 over
until bilateral dialogue was restored last year.
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The discussion would focus on “evolving and multifaceted” ties, particularly on the geopolitical fallout of rising economic imbalances, the
human rights in China and stability in the Indo-Pacific region, the statement said.
The delegation – comprising lawmakers from Germany, Spain, Italy, Czechia, Poland and Belgium – will also visit Shanghai to meet municipal officials and tech representatives, with topics to include tech sovereignty, competition and the global governance of AI.
The EU may continue its existing approach of trying to push China to use its influence over Russia to encourage concessions and advance peace talks in the Ukraine conflict, according to
, head of European studies at Beijing Foreign Studies University.
Their differing stances over the Ukraine war have long been a source of tension between Beijing and Brussels. Brussels has accused Beijing of aiding Moscow – including recent claims that China is helping train Russian troops – which Beijing has denied.
“To resolve the conflict, the EU should establish a basis for constructive dialogue with China rather than making unilateral accusations or demands,” Cui said.