The European Union has reached out to Hong Kong, stating that the Chinese city “can count on the EU,” during times of struggle. This was said soon after U.S. President Donald Trump signed a democracy act to allow sanctions against Hong Kong’s government. 

Managing director for Asia and the Pacific at the European External Action Service (EEAS) Gunnar Wiegand, “True friends stand by each other at difficult times, and Hong Kong can count on the EU in this regard.” 

An EU delegation visited the city on Thursday to hold talks with local politicians. In addition, the EEAS was in Hong Kong for the “structured dialogue” that takes place every year. According to the EU, the purpose of such talks is to help an “even closer EU-Hong Kong cooperation”. 

According to the statement, the EU and Hong Kong officials discussed the “various matters of mutual interest, including [the] latest developments.” Moreover, it said that the EU’s third-largest trading partner was Hong Kong. 

Wiegand said, “Hong Kong’s high degree of autonomy, its rule of law and fundamental rights and freedoms as enshrined in the ‘one country, two systems’ principle are fundamental for our close economies and people-to-people ties.”