A delegation from the European Parliament’s Committee on Foreign Affairs, led by chairman David McAllister, arrived in China on Tuesday, July 21st, 2026, for their first committee visit to the country. The eight-member group includes lawmakers from Germany, Spain, Italy, Czechia, Poland, and Belgium.

The visit marks a broader resumption of institutional exchanges between the EU and China, which had been frozen since 2021 due to Xinjiang-related sanctions but were reinstated last year. The delegation plans to meet senior officials in Beijing and Shanghai to address strained ties amid escalating trade friction, geopolitical uncertainty, and expanding EU import curbs.

In Beijing, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi urged the delegation to strengthen exchanges across Chinese society to develop "a genuine, multi-dimensional and evolving perspective" on China and foster a rational and objective perception. Wang emphasized that both sides should address disputes as partners and avoid politicizing economic and trade matters or overstretching security concepts into normal exchanges.

A statement from the EU delegation released on Monday highlighted that discussions would focus on the "evolving and multifaceted" nature of EU-China relations, particularly the geopolitical fallout from rising economic imbalances, the Russia-Ukraine war, human rights issues in China, and stability in the Indo-Pacific region.

The delegation will also visit Shanghai to meet municipal officials and technology representatives, with topics including tech sovereignty, competition, and the global governance of artificial intelligence.

This visit follows the 25th EU-China summit held in Beijing last July, which coincided with the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations, although no high-level summit has been confirmed for this year.

Sources