Brussels, 18/07/2002 (Agence Europe) - A delegation of the European Parliament, comprising eleven members, was in China from 7 to 15 July. The delegation, headed by Dutch Liberal Elly Plooij-van Gorsel was well received by the Chinese authorities in Beijing then in Tibet, with a programme that included many visits to sites of historical interest. The delegation met Prime Minister Li Peng and Deputy Prime Minister Qian Qichen, as well as several dignitaries of the National People's Congress. Discussions covered the development of political dialogue between the European Union and China, including aspects relating to human rights, economic and trade issues related to China's accession to the WTO, as well as other subjects that come within the framework of EU/China cooperation. During a press conference, the vice-chairman of the EP delegation, Per Gahrton (Greens/EFA, Sweden), expressed regret that the Chinese authorities were not willing to discuss with the Dalai Lama. "They set their conditions, the Dalai Lama fulfils them and then they say that it is not enough, which is a serious problem for us", said the MEP, cited by AFP, considering that the speech given by the Dalai Lama at the European Parliament, on 24 October 2001, should have satisfied the Chinese demand for a pledge not to call for Tibet's independence.