During both meetings, MEPs and members of China\u2019s National People\u2019s Congress will address the topics of Russia\u2019s war in Ukraine, trade, maintaining the role of the United Nations in the global order, and human rights, Eroglu said.<\/p>\n
The last gathering was an interparliamentary summit held in Beijing on May 2018. Further talks were put on hold because of the Covid-19 pandemic and a break of diplomatic ties after China sanctioned EU lawmakers in 2021.<\/p>\n
Lifting sanctions<\/p>\n
\u201cWe need to change the status quo of our trade relationship,\u201d Eroglu said. \u201cAt the moment, we have a massive trade deficit with China, and we need to reduce this \u2026 we are essentially transferring our prosperity to China.\u201d<\/p>\n
He added that \u201cthe EU should consistently emphasize that improving EU-China relations hinges on China\u2019s position regarding the war,\u201d even though it is \u201cunrealistic\u201d to expect China to change its position on the war in Ukraine and that it will continue to \u201cside with Russia.\u201d<\/p>\n
The visit comes after Beijing and the European Parliament lifted sanctions <\/a>enforced on each other in April 2025, clearing the way for further political dialogue between the two superpowers.<\/p>\n China sanctioned five MEPs and the human rights committee in 2021, which prompted the Parliament\u2019s leadership to retaliate in the form of a ban on any diplomatic contact.<\/p>\n