Xi Jinping’s First Visit to Europe: Opportunity for Dialogue and Common Goals Amidst Tensions

Chinese leader Xi Jinping has begun his first visit to Europe in five years, kicking off a state trip to France on Monday. During his time in the country, he has met with French President Emmanuel Macron and EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.

Tomorrow, Macron and Xi will travel to southern France in the Hautes-Pyrénées province. From there, Xi’s journey continues to Serbia and Hungary. In Belgrade, he will attend the 25th anniversary of the bombing of the Chinese embassy, which occurred during the Kosovo war in May 1999 when NATO accidentally bombed the embassy.

Xi’s participation in the memorial service has been seen as a political message highlighting his view that NATO makes excesses and that the United States has a selective approach to international law. His visit comes at a time when relations between China and Europe are tense, with concerns about Russia’s war of aggression in Ukraine and China’s strategic dependencies on European countries.

The EU is trying to reduce its “strategic dependencies” on China by launching numerous trade investigations into its activities, including plans for import duties on cheap Chinese electric cars due to concerns about anti-competitive subsidies and unfair market access. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen stated in her opening speech that she wants good relations with China to address global challenges such as climate change and biodiversity loss.

Macron emphasized the need for dialogue between Europe and China in the current global political situation after their meeting yesterday. Von der Leyen described their communication as open and honest, with disagreements being addressed. Macron and von der Leyen urged Xi to use his influence to help end Russia’s aggression in Ukraine.

Von der Leyen acknowledged the complexity of the relationship between Europe and China while emphasizing fair play for all parties involved. She expressed Europe’s readiness to make tough decisions protect its economy and security while approaching it carefully, constructively, and responsibly.

In conclusion, Xi Jinping’s first visit to Europe in five years marks an opportunity for both sides to address their differences openly while working towards common goals such as reducing strategic dependencies on each other and addressing global challenges such as climate change and biodiversity loss.