China has cancelled a trip by European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell scheduled for next week, an EU spokesperson said on Tuesday.

According to international media report, Josep Borrell and Chinese diplomats were expected to discuss trade, human rights and the war in Ukraine.

As per reports, EU spokesperson Nabila Massrali said: “Unfortunately, we were informed by the Chinese counterparts that the envisaged dates next week are no longer possible and we must now look for alternatives.”

“It is for China to communicate on the reasons,” she added. “We will adapt and find together a new date.”

China’s foreign ministry said Beijing attaches “high importance to Sino-European relations and has maintained exchanges with Europe at all levels and in various aspects”.

Spokesperson Wang Wenbing said at a news briefing in Beijing that Borrell would be welcomed “as soon as possible at the convenience of both sides”.

The development followed last week’s EU summit, during which the bloc endorsed a proposal to source key materials, such as rare earth metals, from places other than China, but it also said it did not want to “decouple” from the world’s second-largest economy entirely.

This is the second time Borrell was supposed to visit Beijing this year. His trip was delayed in April after he tested positive for COVID-19.