Wang Yi calls on European Parliament delegation to strengthen exchanges

A European Parliament delegation is on a three-day visit to China to manage strained ties amid escalating trade friction, 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 in China on Tuesday for the committee’s first visit to the country.

The trip to Beijing and Shanghai reflects a broader resumption of institutional exchanges, which were frozen in 2021 over Xinjiang-related sanctions until bilateral dialogue was restored last year.

In July last year, China and the EU held their 25th summit in Beijing, coinciding with the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations, although there has been no confirmation that a high-level EU-China summit will take place this year.

In a meeting in Beijing on Tuesday, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi called on the delegation to strengthen exchanges across Chinese society to gain “a genuine, multi-dimensional and evolving perspective” on China and foster a rational and objective perception, according to a Chinese foreign ministry statement.

Wang said both sides should address disputes as partners and avoid the politicisation of economic and trade matters, or overstretching security concepts into normal exchanges.

A statement released by the delegation of the EU to China on Monday said the discussions would focus on “evolving and multifaceted” ties, particularly on the geopolitical fallout of rising economic imbalances, the Russia-Ukraine war, human rights in China and stability in the Indo-Pacific region.

The delegation – comprising lawmakers from Germany, Spain, Italy, the Czech Republic, 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.