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 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.
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.