Chinese Leader Xi to meet France’s Macron

Invited by France, Serbia and Hungary, Chinese President Xi Jinping will pay state visits to France, Serbia and Hungary from May 5 to 10. French President Emmanuel Macron, Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic, Hungarian President Tamas Sulyok, and Prime Minister Viktor Orban have all welcomed China’s President to Europe. Hua Chunying, the Foreign Ministry spokesperson for China, announced the trip. The trips demonstrate that both China and Europe are attempting to explore the space and potential for collaboration in an era of increased strategic rivalry among major powers and the return of geopolitics. According to analysts, the trips will provide momentum for the ongoing development of China-Europe ties, demonstrating that the two sides can maintain friendly exchanges and mutually beneficial collaboration beyond traditional geopolitics. This will be the Chinese president’s first trip abroad this year. This is also the first time China’s top leader has visited Europe in over five years. This is Xi’s first visit to France in five years, and it coincides with the 60th anniversary of China-France diplomatic ties. The Franco-Chinese year of cultural tourism began in January, and both nations will host a series of events to commemorate cultural collaboration. According to Lin Jian, a Chinese Foreign Ministry official, Xi will meet with French President Macron on Monday to discuss China-France ties, China-EU relations, and international and regional hotspots of common interest. According to Reuters, France’s Airbus is negotiating a possible big aircraft deal with China. During Xi’s first trip to Serbia in eight years, he will meet with Serbian President Vucic to exchange views on bilateral relations and international and regional hotspot issues of mutual interest, as well as discuss an upgrade of the China-Serbia relationship and chart the future course of bilateral relations, according to Lin. The visit to Hungary coincides with the 75th anniversary of Sino-Hungarian diplomatic ties. During his visit, Xi will speak with President Sulyok and Prime Minister Orban on China-Hungary ties and areas of mutual interest. According to Lin, this visit will take bilateral ties to new heights, ushering in a new chapter of friendship and collaboration between China and Hungary, reenergise China-EU relations, and providing stability and good energy to a volatile globe. Last year, the European Union initiated an anti-subsidy probe into Chinese electric car imports. The European Commission has initiated an inquiry into Chinese public medical device procurement after an unprecedented investigation against a Chinese trainmaker in February for allegedly utilising subsidies to undercut European suppliers. During Macron’s China tour last year, his appeal for “strategic autonomy” on the Taiwan matter was viewed as sensible, which also sparked debate in Europe.