Chinese President Xi Jinping heads to Paris on Sunday for a rare two-day visit to France.
During the visit, French President Emmanuel Macron will try to persuade his Chinese counterpart to work to reduce trade imbalances between the two countries, and to use his influence on Russia regarding the war in Ukraine.
Neither goal will be achieved easily during the Chinese President’s visit, which comes at a time of increasing trade tensions between Europe and China.
France supports the European Union’s investigation into Chinese electric vehicle exports.
“We must continue to urge the Chinese authorities to give us more guarantees on trade issues,” an Elysee adviser said ahead of Xi’s visit, his first to Europe in five years.
The official meetings will include joint talks between Xi with Macron and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.
Divisions within the 27 EU countries – especially between France and Germany – undermine their ability to influence China.
Sources said that German Chancellor Olaf Scholz will not join Macron and Xi in Paris due to previous commitments.
“Influence flies out the window if European leaders send mixed messages to Xi,” said Noah Barkin, a senior advisor at Rhodium Group and a close follower of EU-China relations.
France will also seek progress on opening Chinese markets to its agricultural exports and resolving issues related to the French cosmetics industry’s concerns over intellectual property rights, officials said.
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