Chinese President Xi Jinping has embarked on a European tour for the first time in five years. On Monday, he began a state visit to France, where he met with French President Emmanuel Macron and EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. Tomorrow, Macron and Xi will travel to the Hautes-Pyrénées province in southern France.
From France, Xi’s journey continues to Serbia and Hungary. In Belgrade, he will attend the 25th anniversary of the bombing of the Chinese embassy during the Kosovo war in May 1999 when NATO accidentally bombed the embassy. This visit serves as a political message from Xi that NATO is making mistakes and that the United States has a selective approach to international law.
The relationship between China and Europe is tense due to several factors such as reducing “strategic dependencies,” launching numerous trade investigations into China’s activities, concerns about anti-competitive subsidies, and unfair market access. Another reason for strained relations is Russia’s war of aggression in Ukraine. Despite China claiming neutrality, it imports Russian energy and exports dual-use products to Russia, creating concerns in Europe.
EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen emphasized that good relations with China are necessary to address global challenges such as climate change and biodiversity loss. French President Emmanuel Macron urged for dialogue between Europe and China in the current global political situation. After their meeting, von der Leyen described communication between them as open and honest, with disagreements being addressed. She emphasized fair play for all parties involved while expressing Europe’s readiness to make tough decisions to protect its economy and security while approaching the relationship with China carefully, constructively, and responsibly.
In conclusion, Xi Jinping’s visit highlights the complexity of relations between China and Europe due to various issues such as economic ties