China has decided to lift sanctions on four current members of the European Parliament, marking a potential thaw in strained relations between Beijing and the European Union. The move also includes the removal of sanctions on the Parliament’s Subcommittee on Human Rights, a parliament official stated on condition of anonymity.
European Parliament President Roberta Metsola is expected to formally announce the development on Wednesday.
The sanctions, originally imposed in 2021, were Beijing’s retaliation against coordinated Western measures targeting Chinese officials accused of human rights abuses against the Uyghur Muslim population in Xinjiang. In response, the European Parliament froze ratification of the EU-China Comprehensive Agreement on Investment (CAI), a deal aimed at providing European companies fairer access to the Chinese market.
Beijing’s decision to lift the sanctions appears to be part of a broader diplomatic effort to strengthen economic and political ties with Europe, especially amid rising tensions and tariff barriers with the United States.
Responding to reports of the policy shift, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun stated at a press conference: “The economic and trade cooperation between China and Europe is complementary and mutually beneficial.” He added that legislative bodies play a vital role in China-EU relations and expressed hope that both sides would “meet each other halfway and strengthen exchanges.”
Guo also extended an invitation to European lawmakers, saying: “Members of the European Parliament are welcome to visit China more often.”
The lifting of the sanctions may pave the way for renewed dialogue between the two powers and potentially revive discussions around the stalled investment deal, signalling a cautious diplomatic reset.
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