Chinese President arrives in Europe: First France, then Hungary and Serbia

(Patria) - Chinese President Xi Jinping began his trip to Europe yesterday, visiting three countries, AP reported.

European car manufacturers are losing ground under the impact of subsidized Chinese electric vehicles. Diplomats are concerned about alleged Chinese spies in European capitals, and China's continued defense trade with Russia worries anyone in Europe who supports war-torn Ukraine and fears that the Russian army will not stop there.

But Europe and China have strong economic ties; trade between the European Union and China is estimated at 2.3 billion euros per day, and Xi appears determined to renew and deepen relations with European leaders after a prolonged absence caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Xi began his visit yesterday in France, whose president wants Europe to have more economic and strategic independence from other world powers. The Chinese president will then travel to Serbia and Hungary, which are seen as friendly towards China and close to Russian President Vladimir Putin, and are recipients of significant Chinese investments.

Xi's trip will be closely watched in Washington for signs of waning European support for its key foreign policy goals. At the same time, there is growing uncertainty in Europe about future U.S. support for transatlantic allies.

Xi was welcomed at Paris Orly Airport by French Prime Minister Gabriel Attal and by protests from groups demanding that France pressure China to respect the rights of the Tibetan and Uyghur minorities. Activists seeking a free Tibet attempted to unfurl a banner under the Arc de Triomphe in Paris on Saturday, protesting in the French capital at approximately the same time Xi's plane landed.

Upon arrival, Xi said he hoped the visit would bring "strategic convergence" between China and France and that further development of their relations would contribute to "stability and positive energy in a turbulent world," according to a text provided to journalists at the airport.

French President Emmanuel Macron will honor Xi today with the full state visit's formal honors. They will also meet with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, who is expected to join Macron in advocating for fairer trade policies and for China to use its influence on Russia to push it towards ending the war in Ukraine.

The EU launched an investigation into Chinese subsidies last autumn and could impose tariffs on electric vehicles exported from China.

China claims to be neutral in the Ukrainian conflict but has refused to call Russia's full-scale attack on its neighbor an invasion and has been accused of bolstering Russia's weapons manufacturing capabilities.