China has canceled the scheduled trip of the EU's high representative for foreign affairs and security policy, Josep Borrell, scheduled for next week.

"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," spokesperson Nabila Massrali told Reuters on Tuesday.

The reasons for canceling the visit were not disclosed.

Borrell was due to visit Beijing on July 10 to meet his Chinese counterpart and discuss "strategic issues" including human rights and Russia's war in Ukraine, the EU's ambassador to China said on Sunday.

Ambassador Jorge Toledo had told the World Peace Forum in Beijing on Sunday that China and Europe are likely to hold two in-person dialogues in September, one on the economy and trade and another on digital matters, before a leaders' summit at the end of the year.

"We want to engage with China but we need progress and we need it this year," Toledo said.

This is the second time this year that Borrell's trip was cancelled. He could not come in April after testing positive for COVID-19.

In a prepared speech for his April visit to Beijing, Borrell stated that the EU could not trust China if it does not work for peace in Ukraine.

In the final document of the EU summit, the member states leader agreed on the principles of relations with China, which included calling on China to influence Russia in the full-scale war in Ukraine.