The Chinese president embarks on a significant journey to mend fences with a cautious Western Europe, though his stance on Russia’s actions in Ukraine raises concerns. Xi Jinping’s visit to Europe marks his first in five years, with a focus likely to be on the ongoing conflict in Ukraine and economic tensions between Beijing and Brussels.
Beginning his tour in France, Xi is scheduled to engage in discussions with French President Emmanuel Macron and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on May 6, before proceeding to the Pyrenees region. Subsequent stops include Serbia and Hungary, nations that have maintained close relations with Russia despite its invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
Matt Geracim, the assistant director of the Atlantic Council’s Global China Hub, outlines three key objectives for Xi’s European visit: repairing damaged relations due to China’s support for Russia’s actions, countering the EU’s economic security agenda towards China, and emphasizing Beijing’s strong partnerships with Serbia and Hungary.
Here’s an overview of Xi’s European tour, extending until Friday.
