On 12 December 2023, Josep Borrell Fontelles, High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the European Commission in charge of a stronger Europe in the World, attended the plenary session of the European Parliament (EP) in Strasbourg, France, on the EU/China relations.

Even before the EU's 2019 'EU-China strategic outlook' defined China as a partner, competitor and systemic rival, China's behaviour had become more assertive, not only in terms of domestic security and economic policies, but also in its posture at international level. During this plenary session, the European Parliament debated on an own-initiative report on EU-China relations. The plenary session followed the EU-China Summit planned for 7-8 December in Beijing, China.

This video shows an opening statement given by Josep Borrell Fontelles on this occasion.