This week, for the first time in five years, Chinese President Xi Jinping visited Europe, with stops in France, Serbia and Hungary.
Xi’s trip comes at a time of tension with many European countries over China’s support for Russia before the war in Ukraine, its trade activities and its apparent actions. espionage activities. The trip will also check out Europe delicate balancing act between China and the United States.
Xi hopes to start a trade war with the European Union as frictions grow over China’s electric vehicle exports and European companies’ market access in China is reduced. . Xi will also encourage President Emmanuel Macron of France to pursue greater autonomy from the United States to weaken Washington’s global dominance.
Here’s what we know about Xi’s trip, which began on Sunday.
What is the significance of Mr. Xi’s journey?
Three countries Xi will visit Experts say, to varying degrees, accept China’s push to redefine the global order. To some extent, they all question America’s post-war world order wish to strengthen relationships with Beijing.
Hungary has close ties with China and is keen to attract Chinese investment in areas such as tram And battery production as Chinese manufacturers expand beyond Asia. Same goes for Serbia has warm relations with Beijing and has secured billions of dollars in Chinese investment.
Mr. Xi’s first stop is France, where Mr. Macron recently said that Europe “must never be a vassal of the United States” and sees France as a bridge between the “Global South” and Western powers .
Despite his courtship of Beijing, Mr. Macron said he remained closer to his ally the United States than to China.
“I prefer to choose my relationship with the United States, with China, rather than have it imposed on me by either side, pushing me in one direction or pulling me in another direction,” he said in an interview with The Economist magazine. However, he added: “It is clear that we are not evenly spaced. We are allies of the American people.”
Before Mr. Xi’s visit, Chinese diplomats expressed hope for the relationship between France and China will be at the forefront of China’s relations with the West.
Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, the EU’s executive body, took part in the negotiations in Monday with Mr. Xi and Mr. Macron in Paris.
This year is also a symbolic year for China and the three countries.
This is the occasion to celebrate 60 years of diplomatic relations between China and France and 75 years of diplomatic relations with Hungary.
This year is also the 25th anniversary of the NATO bombing of the Chinese Embassy in Belgrade, Serbia, during the Kosovo war, killing three Chinese journalists and sparking angry protests at the embassy. America in Beijing. Chinese authorities continue to view the bombing as a sign of NATO aggression and an example of why Russia was right to feel threatened before deciding to invade Ukraine.
When was the last time Mr. Xi visited Europe?
Mr. Xi’s most recent visit to Europe was in 2019. Before the coronavirus pandemic, he had to take refuge in China, leaving the country’s borders for the first time in 2019. Fall 2022.
The 2019 trip includes one flashy ceremony in Rome to celebrate Italy’s participation in China’s Belt and Road global infrastructure project, which aims to expand China’s influence abroad. France red carpet for Mr. of Europe is over.
Mr. Xi also visit Greecewhere he pledged his support to the country in its struggle with Britain to acquire the Parthenon sculptures known as Elgin marble.
What is the relationship between Europe and China like?
Since Xi’s most recent visit, relations between China and much of Europe have become increasingly fractured. The coronavirus pandemicBeijing’s embrace of Russia and repression of ethnic minorities, along with the rise of Chinese exports, have created a backlash against China in many European countries.
China has Car shipments increased fivefold into foreign markets in recent years, and the European Union has recently adopted a more confrontational tone toward China’s trade practices. EU authorities have opened an investigation that could lead to restrictions on Chinese solar exports. Preliminary steps have been taken to limit it trade with Chinese goods including electric cars, wind turbines and medical equipment.
Italy has also told China it will no longer participate in the Belt and Road Initiative, and last month six people in Europe were charged with spying for China in the space of a week, one Sign showing European countries are intensifying their response Chinese spy.
At the same time, European countries have different views on how to cooperate with Beijing and benefit from economic opportunities there, and some are concerned about any European tariffs.
Mr. Macron and Prime Minister Olaf Scholz of Germany also think that China’s leverage will be important in ending the war in Ukraine.
David Pierson Contributing reports from Hong Kong, and Aurelien Breeden from Paris.
