A nine-member delegation from the European Parliament arrived in China on March 31. The group represents the Committee on the Internal Market and Consumer Protection. This visit marks the first such delegation to travel to China in eight years. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning confirmed the trip on Tuesday. She stated that exchanges between legislative bodies form an important part of China-EU relations. As legislative exchange resumes, both sides hope to address longstanding trade concerns.
The delegation received an invitation from China’s Legislative Affairs Commission of the NPC Standing Committee. Anna Cavazzini, chair of the committee, leads the group of lawmakers. Members come from France, Germany, Denmark, and several other European nations. The team will visit Beijing and Shanghai during their three-day trip. Their schedule includes meetings with Chinese authorities and private companies. Notably, this visit occurs during a period of growing economic friction between both sides.
The European Parliament released a statement on March 26 announcing the visit. The statement described the trip as an important opportunity. It aims to address shared digital and e-commerce challenges. The delegation also seeks to foster fair competition between the EU and China. Furthermore, the visit will enhance lawmakers’ understanding of China’s technology sector. Members will examine how EU rules comply with Chinese practices on the ground.
In Beijing, the delegation plans to visit the EU Chamber of Commerce. They will discuss online trade and market access challenges there. European companies face significant hurdles when operating in China. Consequently, the delegation will raise these issues directly with Chinese officials. They will also discuss consumer and product safety standards. Major e-commerce giants Shein and Alibaba will participate in those discussions.
On Tuesday, the delegation met with EU Ambassador Jorge Toledo. Other EU ambassadors and representatives joined that meeting. They discussed challenges related to the EU internal market. Competition between the EU and China also featured prominently. Later, the IMCO delegation visited the National People’s Congress. They talked about consumer safety and EU companies’ market access. Moreover, they paid a visit to China’s State Administration for Market Regulation on the same day.
Chinese authorities had not released meeting details as of Tuesday evening. However, the European Parliament posted updates on the visit via social media. The last such delegation traveled to China in May 2018. That seven-member team discussed trade issues including market access and investment. Wang Dongming, vice-chairperson of the NPC Standing Committee, met that delegation. The two sides held cordial and pragmatic discussions at the Great Hall of the People.
Nevertheless, legislative exchanges faced significant challenges in recent years. Some European Parliament members have led anti-China rhetoric consistently. The parliament passed multiple motions criticizing China on Xinjiang and Hong Kong. China firmly opposed those resolutions each time. As a result, official exchanges between legislative bodies froze for several years. When legislative exchange resumes after such a long hiatus, the current visit carries extra diplomatic weight.
Dong Yifan, an associate researcher at Beijing Language and Culture University, offered his analysis. The European Parliament often carries a strong ideological orientation. However, this visit signals a more pragmatic approach from the institution. The parliament now wants to explore solutions for various China-EU issues. This shift in tone matters greatly for bilateral relations moving forward.
Bloomberg reported that EU lawmakers target systemic breaches of consumer laws. The delegation is investigating allegedly non-compliant small parcels. These parcels arrive from platforms like Shein, Alibaba, and Temu. The EU has stepped up scrutiny of Chinese companies since last year. The bloc has also scaled back preferential policies for low-value parcels. New taxes and tighter customs oversight may follow soon.
Cui Hongjian, a professor at Beijing Foreign Studies University, provided additional perspective. The delegation focuses heavily on the digital economy and cross-border e-commerce. This visit may help EU lawmakers gain firsthand understanding of China’s development. They may better recognize that China’s growth does not rely on unfair subsidies. Consequently, future EU policy toward Chinese companies could become more balanced. As legislative exchange resumes on this foundation, a more fact-based trade relationship may emerge.
