EU-China parliamentary relations to resume after seven-year hiatus

A delegation of Chinese politicians is set to visit the European Parliament for the first time in over seven years, signaling a thaw in relations that had remained frozen due to sanctions and geopolitical tensions.

The long-anticipated meeting, which is still being finalized, is expected to take place in mid-October or early November, according to top MEP Engin Eroglu, chair of the EU-China interparliamentary delegation. The European lawmakers are then scheduled to make a reciprocal visit to China in late May, he told POLITICO.

The revival of dialogue comes as the European Union navigates an increasingly volatile international landscape, caught between growing assertiveness from Beijing, Russia’s continued war in Ukraine, and the unpredictable return of Donald Trump to the White House. Despite ongoing global uncertainty, the upcoming talks mark a cautious return to diplomatic engagement between Brussels and Beijing.

According to Eroglu, discussions during both meetings will focus on key global and bilateral concerns, including Russia’s war in Ukraine, trade relations, the role of the United Nations in the global order, and human rights.

The last formal interparliamentary meeting took place in Beijing in May 2018. Subsequent engagement was halted due to the COVID-19 pandemic and a sharp deterioration in ties following China’s imposition of sanctions on several EU lawmakers in 2021. In retaliation, the European Parliament suspended all diplomatic contact with Beijing.

“We need to change the status quo of our trade relationship,” Eroglu said. “At the moment, we have a massive trade deficit with China, and we need to reduce this … we are essentially transferring our prosperity to China.”

Eroglu also emphasized the geopolitical stakes involved, particularly regarding China’s position on the war in Ukraine. “The EU should consistently emphasize that improving EU-China relations hinges on China’s position regarding the war,” he said, while conceding that it is “unrealistic” to expect Beijing to shift its stance, noting that China will likely continue to “side with Russia.”

This renewed dialogue follows the mutual lifting of sanctions in April 2025, removing a key obstacle to political engagement. China had initially sanctioned five Members of the European Parliament and the Parliament’s subcommittee on human rights in 2021, prompting a diplomatic freeze.

The latest diplomatic overture builds on momentum from a July 2025 visit to Beijing by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President Antonio Costa, marking 50 years of EU-China diplomatic relations. Their visit included meetings with Chinese President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Qiang, laying the groundwork for renewed high-level engagement between the two powers.

By Vafa Guliyeva