Chinese President Xi Jinping came to the European Union (EU) for the first time in five years with a clear message that Beijing offers more economic opportunities to the EU than the US.
According to the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Chinese President Xi Jinping will begin a 5-day visit to France, Serbia and Hungary on May 5.
These countries are seeking investment from China despite a series of EU investigations into Beijing’s industrial policy and warnings from officials in Washington about the risks.
Chinese President Xi Jinping. Photo: Reuters
According to well-informed sources, French President Emmanuel Macron wants to strengthen his personal relationship with Mr. Xi, in the context of his calling on the Chinese leader to urge Russian President Vladimir Putin to end the conflict in Ukraine.
They said Mr. Macron also aims to attract Chinese investment into France’s electric vehicle (EV) battery sector.
According to Bloomberg news agency, Associate Professor of Political Science Chong Ja Ian at the National University of Singapore commented that the visit is an effort to attract regions in Europe that Mr. Xi feels can be more sympathetic to his views. grandfather.
Mr. Macron and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen will also have a three-way meeting with Mr. Xi during his visit.
Mr. Xi’s trip takes place in the context that the EU is gradually having a more unified voice with Washington in opposing China’s cheap export capacity and national security risks.
Ms. Una Aleksandra Berzina-Cerenkova, director of the Center for China Studies at Riga Stradins University, said attracting support from friendly countries will help Beijing send a message that Europe is on China’s side. China, regardless of what Brussels says.
Xi last visited Western Europe in 2019, when China’s and the euro zone’s economies were roughly the same size in USD terms. Today, China’s economy is nearly 15% larger, and that gap is forecast to double before the end of the decade.
Former diplomat Cui Hongjian, a professor at Beijing Foreign Studies University, said: “China needs to send a clearer message to Europeans that it is still a trustworthy partner. In summary is to provide more favorable policies for European countries and companies.”
