Fermanagh and Omagh District Council members voted unanimously at their February general meeting to decline an invitation to visit China at the end of April. The council chose to focus on existing ties with Chinese local governments instead of planning further travel during the current mandate.

The invitation arrived in January alongside offers to other Northern Ireland councils. Council members had deferred the matter last month and sought itinerary details from the Chinese Consulate in Belfast, which provided no additional information.

Past delegations visited China in 2018 and last October with two councillors and one official. Chairman Barry McElduff, who joined the October trip with DUP councillor Shirley Hawkes and the chief executive, supported the rejection and stressed maintaining the council's friendly city agreement with Huangshi in Hubei province.

Sinn Fein councillor Debbie Coyle cited short planning time as a key reason against the trip and proposed considering a future visit after the current mandate. Ulster Unionist councillor Mark Ovens noted his party's ongoing opposition to the proposal.

SDLP councillor Adam Gannon and Alliance councillor Stephen Donnelly raised concerns over the Chinese government's human rights record. No formal vote occurred on the unanimous decision.