EU lawmaker praises Shenzhen’s innovation model and urges deeper China-EU ties

European Parliament Vice-President Younous Omarjee said Shenzhen’s innovation ecosystem and industrial depth show why China-EU cooperation still has room to grow, after visiting the city’s Robot Valley, BYD and Valeo’s Shenzhen factory. He said trade protectionism is outdated and argued that both sides should lean on dialogue, multilateralism and practical cooperation to steady global trade and address climate and technology challenges.

Why it matters: - Younous Omarjee’s comments point to continued political and business interest in China-EU cooperation, even as trade tensions rise. - The remarks highlight Shenzhen as a symbol of China’s industrial upgrade in electric vehicles, robotics, AI and advanced manufacturing. - Omarjee tied the visit to broader questions about global trade stability, climate policy and multilateralism.

What happened: - Younous Omarjee, Vice-President of the European Parliament, visited Shenzhen, Guangdong, and gave an exclusive interview with SFC. - Omarjee visited Shenzhen Robot Valley, BYD and French supplier Valeo’s Shenzhen factory. - Omarjee said Shenzhen is “shaping the future” and repeatedly emphasized cooperation, dialogue and multilateralism. - The interview was published on September 23, 2026.

The details: - Omarjee said Shenzhen has evolved from a fishing village into a world-class metropolis driven by innovation. - He said the city has a high concentration of innovation resources, strong biodiversity protection, fresh air and a high quality of life. - Omarjee called Valeo a model of China-France industrial cooperation. - Valeo, founded in France in the 1920s, now has multiple production sites in China. - Omarjee said Valeo China is one of the group’s most innovative production sites globally. - He described the world as undergoing two industrial shifts: the move from internal combustion engines to electric motors, and the rapid spread of artificial intelligence. - He said Shenzhen has many start-ups, research talents, strong R&D breakthroughs, abundant higher-education resources, many young innovators and a large number of patent applications. - Omarjee said China’s innovation capacity is impressive and helps Chinese companies expand into global markets. - He said trade protectionism is outdated and inconsistent with the long-term interests of all parties. - He said China and the EU should maintain dialogue, face challenges in cooperation and seek consensus.

Between the lines: - Omarjee’s tone suggests that parts of Europe see value in engagement with China despite policy friction over trade, technology and geopolitics. - His comments on technology sharing suggest a push for collaboration that balances intellectual property protection with wider access to innovation benefits. - The focus on Shenzhen signals that European officials are watching China’s most advanced manufacturing hubs as indicators of future competition and partnership. - Omarjee framed China-EU relations less as a zero-sum contest and more as a shared responsibility to preserve global stability.

What’s next: - Omarjee said there is still room to strengthen China-EU relations through more dialogue and cooperation. - He said both sides should work together on green development, including Paris Agreement commitments, marine ecosystems, marine governance and biodiversity. - He said China and the EU should support multilateralism, a multipolar order and international law. - Omarjee said his visit could still make a positive contribution to China-EU relations and mutually beneficial cooperation.

The bottom line: - Omarjee’s visit framed Shenzhen as both a showcase for China’s innovation system and a case for keeping China-EU economic ties open despite rising friction.