European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen said on Monday that the EU would not shrink back from taking tough measures to protect its economy and security, amid tense trade relations with China.

"China that plays fair is good for all of us," she said following trilateral talks in Paris with Chinese President Xi Jinping and French President Emmanuel Macron. "Europe will not waver from making tough decisions needed to protect its economy and its security," she said.