Chinese President Xi Jinping embarked on his first visit to Paris in five years, with trade and geopolitical matters topping the agenda in discussions with French President Emmanuel Macron and European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen.
The visit comes against the backdrop of trade tensions, including a European Union investigation into Chinese electric vehicle exports and Beijing’s probe into mainly French-made brandy imports. Despite these challenges, Xi praised the strong ties between China and France, highlighting them as a model for international cooperation despite differing social systems.
Chinese state media adopted a conciliatory tone, acknowledging the inevitability of challenges in China-EU economic relations.
The People’s Daily highlighted China’s commitment to dialogue and cooperation to resolve differences, while the Global Times reiterated China’s unwavering support for Europe’s strategic autonomy and desire to expand cooperation.
However, the European Union remains divided in its approach to China, with France advocating for a tougher stance on trade issues compared to Germany’s more cautious approach. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s absence from the Paris meetings due to prior commitments underscored this divergence in opinions within the EU.
President Macron expressed the hope of leveraging China’s influence to persuade Russia to cease its operations in Ukraine.
Despite limited progress in this regard, France continues to prioritize diplomatic efforts to address the conflict in Ukraine, with Xi’s recent call to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy being a notable development.
Addressing economic concerns, France seeks to enhance market access for its agricultural exports to China and resolve intellectual property rights issues affecting its cosmetic industry.
In return, China is expected to announce a significant order of Airbus aircraft during Xi’s visit, further strengthening economic ties between the two nations.
Following his engagements in Paris, President Xi will travel to Serbia and Hungary, underscoring China’s growing influence in the region. Macron plans to accompany Xi to the Pyrenees, a region with personal significance to the French president, before the Chinese leader continues his diplomatic tour.
Comments