Xi Jinping is set to embark on a rare visit to Europe, beginning with France where he will attend a state visit hosted by President Emmanuel Macron at the Elysee Palace. During his time in France, the President of the EU Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, will also participate in meetings with Xi.
While China has claimed neutrality in the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, its ties with Russia have strengthened in practice. Despite this, experts believe that significant changes in EU-China relations during Xi’s visit are unlikely. Following his time in France, Xi will continue his visit to Serbia and Hungary, 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 also 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 will provide an opportunity to explore and potentially strengthen diplomatic relations between China and EU member states.