The Foreign Affairs Committee of the Riigikogu will travel to China on Monday on a four day official visit with the aim of developing bilateral relations.

“China’s role in the world is consistently increasing in importance, which is why having tight relations with Beijing is very important for Estonia, particularly in the context of security environment in Europe today,” said the Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Riigikogu Marko Mihkelson.

He added that the Committee delegation is visiting China at the invitation of their Chinese colleagues. “Estonia and China have enjoyed successful relations in various fields over the past two decades. I hope that the visit of the Committee also gives a new impulse for the further development of political relations,” Mihkelson stressed.

In Beijing, the Committee is meeting the Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Chinese parliament Fu Ying, the Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs Liu Jianchao and the Vice-Minister of the International Department of the CPC Central Committee Zhou Li.

A meeting will also take place with the Vice Governor of Guangdong Province of the Chinese Representative Assembly Lei Yulan, Guangdong Chamber of Commerce, businesses, and the Honorary Consul of Estonia in Hong Kong Matthew Lam.

The Estonian delegation visiting China and the local Estonian Embassy in 6–10 May consists of the Chairman of the Committee Marko Mihkelson and members of the Committee Maimu Berg, Imre Sooäär and Juhan Parts. A delegation of the Riigikogu Foreign Affairs Committee last visited China in 2009.