China Welcomes EU Lawmakers for First Time in Eight Years

China welcomed the first visit by European lawmakers in eight years, as Beijing seeks to stabilize relations following the lifting of retaliatory sanctions last year.

A European parliamentary delegation began their trip on Tuesday, Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Mao Ning said at a regular briefing. The visit ends a long hiatus marked by the pandemic and diplomatic friction over human rights disputes, although tensions persist over trade and Beijing’s alleged support for Russia’s war in Ukraine.