Xi Jinping’s Rare Visit to Europe: Opportunity or Further Tension in EU-China Relations?

Xi Jinping, the President of China, is set to embark on a rare visit to Europe. His trip will start in France, where he will attend a state visit hosted by President Emmanuel Macron at the Elysee Palace. Ursula von der Leyen, the President of the EU Commission, will also participate in meetings with Xi during his time in France.

While China claims to be neutral in the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, its ties with Russia have strengthened in practice. This has led to tension between China and the EU. Despite this, experts believe that significant changes in EU-China relations during Xi’s visit are unlikely.

After his time in France, Xi will continue his visit to Serbia and Hungary, two countries known for their positive attitudes towards both China and Russia. This marks Xi’s first visit to Europe outside of Russia since 2019.

The relationship between China and the EU has 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 provides an opportunity to explore and potentially strengthen diplomatic relations between China and EU member states.