President Xi Jinping is set to embark on a rare visit to Europe, starting with France where he is scheduled for a state visit on Monday and Tuesday. During his time in France, Xi will attend a gala dinner hosted by President Emmanuel Macron at the Elysee Palace, with the President of the EU Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, also participating in meetings with him.
Despite strained relations between China and the European Union (EU), particularly after Russia’s recent large-scale attack on Ukraine, experts believe that significant changes in EU-China relations during Xi’s visit are unlikely. While China claims to be neutral in the conflict, its ties with Russia have strengthened in practice.
After his time in France, Xi will continue his visit to Serbia and Hungary, countries known for their positive attitudes towards both China and Russia. This trip marks Xi’s first visit to Europe outside of Russia since 2019.
The relationship between China and the EU has also been challenged by efforts to reduce dependence on China, the presence of Chinese electric cars in the EU market, and suspicions of Chinese-linked espionage. Despite these challenges, Xi’s visit to Europe will provide an opportunity to explore and potentially strengthen diplomatic relations between China and EU member states.