Chinese President Xi in Europe after a 5-year hiatus

Chinese President Xi Jinping has visited France.

According to a statement from the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, upon his arrival in the country, Xi stated that he was happy to visit France for the 3rd time, following his two previous visits in 2014 and 2019.

Underlining that 2024 marks the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and France, Xi said that 60 years ago, the two countries broke through Cold War patterns and initiated diplomatic relations at the ambassadorial level.

Xi expressed that the relationship between the two countries has been at the forefront of China's relations with Western countries over the years and serves as an example of peaceful coexistence and win-win cooperation between countries with different social systems.

Pointing out that the two countries have continuously made new progress in cooperation in the fields of aviation, space, nuclear energy, agri-food, and green development, and are in coordination on issues such as climate change, biodiversity conservation, and global governance, the Chinese leader said, "The growing China-France relationship not only brings benefits to the people of the two countries but also adds stability and positive energy to a world in turmoil."

Stating that during his visit, he would exchange views with French President Emmanuel Macron on China-France and China-Europe relations, as well as international and regional issues, Xi said, "I hope this visit will contribute to cementing our long-standing friendship, enhancing political trust and strategic consensus between the two countries, and deepening cooperation and interaction in various fields."

The Chinese leader was welcomed at the airport by French Prime Minister Gabriel Attal upon his arrival in the country.

FIRST EUROPEAN VISIT SINCE 2019

The Chinese leader is making his first visit to Europe since 2019. During his trip, which will last until May 10, Xi will visit Serbia and Hungary, which China views as friends in Europe, after France. The countries Xi chose for his visit reflect his search for support on the continent.

The Beijing administration supports the idea of "European strategic autonomy" in the hope of finding a rift within the Western alliance in its competition with the US. For this reason, Xi views French President Macron, who argues that Europe should not be a "vassal" of the US in its geopolitical conflicts with China, as a strategic friend.

At a time when the European Commission has launched a subsidy investigation into electric cars imported from China and plans to launch investigations into solar panels and wind turbines, China's economic relations with the continent are passing through a critical threshold.

On the other hand, China's stance of providing implicit support to Russia in the Ukraine War is viewed negatively in Europe. European countries, which perceive Moscow's move against Ukraine as a threat to their own security, expect more effort from Beijing to resolve the Ukraine crisis.

News Source: AA