Today, China’s President Xi Jinping is embarking on a rare visit to Europe. His first stop will be in France, where he will be attending a state visit from Monday to Tuesday. The visit includes a gala dinner hosted by President Emmanuel Macron at the Elysee Palace, with the participation of Ursula von der Leyen, the president of the EU Commission. Despite China’s claim of neutrality in Russia’s attack on Ukraine, its ties with Russia have deepened.
Elina Sinkkonen, a senior researcher at an institute specializing in foreign policy, believes that any significant change in relations during Xi’s visit to Europe is unlikely. The relationship between the EU and China has been strained due to concerns over China’s relationship with Russia and Chinese electric cars flooding the EU market. Additionally, suspicions of Chinese espionage have further complicated EU-China relations.
After France, Xi will continue his trip to Serbia and Hungary later in the week. Unlike France, these countries have maintained positive attitudes towards both China and Russia. This marks Xi’s first visit to Europe outside of Russia since 2019 before the pandemic.
