(VOVWORLD) - Chinese President Xi Jinping is on a state visit to France, Serbia, and Hungary from May 5 to May 9. Xi’s last visit to the West was in 2019. This new visit aims to remove bottlenecks between the two sides and convey a message of peaceful coexistence, cooperation, and mutual benefit.
 Chinese President Xi Jinping meets French President Emmanuel Macron in Paris. (photo: VNA) |
Developing relations with France and with the EU are the focus of Mr. Xi’s trip, in a context of many major issues calling for regional and global cooperation.
Strengthening cooperation for mutual benefit
France is the first stop on Xi’s tour. In recent years, China and France have steadily expanded trade relations and cultural and people-to-people exchanges. In 2023, bilateral trade turnover increased sharply to more than 78 billion USD. China is France's largest trading partner in Asia, while France is China’s third largest trading partner and third largest importer in the EU.
Chinese investment in Serbia has outstripped that of European countries like Germany and France. In fact, China has become Serbia's largest investor.
Meanwhile, Hungary is the leading destination for Chinese investment in EV batteries in Europe.
At a meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen in Paris on Monday, Xi said China considers the EU an important partner in its external policy and modernization roadmap.
Macron and Von der Leyen called on China to ensure more balanced trade. The request was made while the EU has been investigating wind turbines, medical equipment, and electric vehicles from China.
 The meeting of Chinese President Xi Jinping, French President Emmanuel Macron, and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen in Paris (photo: Reuters.) |
Generating new momentum for bilateral ties
China has said it wants to stabilize its relationship with the EU, and Xi is particularly trying to avoid a trade war with the EU and soften the EU’s criticism of China on trade and a number of other issues.
Xi’s visit to Serbia and Hungary, who are both members of China's Belt and Road Initiative, aims to accelerate the construction of a high-speed railway as part of that initiative. This is also an opportunity for China to strengthen its partnership in the Western Balkans.
President Xi's visit to Europe will create momentum for cooperation in many fields, strengthen the China-EU comprehensive strategic partnership, and have a global impact since China and the EU both play an important role in addressing global challenges.
With global economics and politics changing constantly, China-EU relations will have an enormous impact on global governance and multi-polarization.