BEIJING, China: China has unveiled new guidance for its e-commerce sector, signalling a push to balance domestic growth with global expansion, shortly after European lawmakers raised concerns over trade practices during a visit to Beijing.

The policy, released on Monday by multiple ministries and regulators, comes about a week after a delegation from the European Union travelled to China, the first such parliamentary visit in eight years, to discuss market access and product safety issues.

During the visit, EU lawmakers flagged a surge of dangerous or non-compliant goods entering the bloc and criticised what they see as limited access to China's domestic market.

The European Union last month also moved to tighten oversight of cross-border e-commerce, agreeing to overhaul its customs system. The new framework includes stricter enforcement measures targeting platforms, many of them Chinese, that could face fines if they sell illegal or unsafe products within the bloc.

China's latest guidance appears aimed at addressing some of these concerns while reinforcing its own ambitions in global e-commerce.

The document calls for a balance between promotion and regulation, as well as between efficiency and fairness, while encouraging closer integration between the digital and real economies. It also outlines plans to establish pilot zones for cross-border e-commerce, develop clearer rules and standards, and support domestic platforms in expanding overseas.

"We will encourage e-commerce enterprises to establish direct procurement bases overseas, expand imports of high-quality and distinctive products and create an e-commerce 'express lane' for global goods to enter the Chinese market," the statement said.

The policy does not single out any specific region but comes amid broader efforts to stabilise ties with Europe following a period of strained relations.

Chen Bo, a senior research fellow at the National University of Singapore's East Asian Institute, said the move was a constructive step but unlikely to resolve underlying tensions. "(This policy) actually shows the Chinese commitment to promote its e-commerce in the world, because the EU concern is quite representative. It is also the concerns from other leading or developed economies," Chen said.

He added that while a comprehensive agreement between China and the EU may be difficult in the near term, interim arrangements could pave the way for broader cooperation.

China's foreign ministry has said the recent EU visit could help improve mutual understanding and support more stable bilateral ties.

The engagement marks a cautious thaw in relations after disputes over trade imbalances, Beijing's ties with Russia following the Ukraine war, and tensions linked to export controls on critical materials such as rare earths.