European Union's High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell said during his visit to China on Friday that the EU and China's bilateral relations are "broad, far-ranging and increasingly complex." He said the EU is committed to managing relations in a "constructive and responsible manner" but noted that it needs a "more balanced and more reciprocal economic relationship."
Borrell said the EU wants to remain "one of the most open economies in the world" and that it does not want to be protectionist, "but sometimes we have to protect." However, he said the EU will be "precise, proportional and compliant with our international obligations." Borrell also said he asked China to "use its influence on Russia" to stop the war in Ukraine and to renew the grain deal. He reminded China that "any direct military support for Russia will be a serious concern for us" and urged it to back Ukraine's peace formula.