Chinese President Xi Jinping on His First Trip to Europe in Five Years: Today in France
Chinese President Xi Jinping has embarked on his first trip to Europe in five years, with a visit that is expected to be dominated by discussions on Russia’s ongoing war in Ukraine and economic tensions between Beijing and Brussels. The first leg of his European tour takes him to France, where significant diplomatic talks are scheduled. Xi Jinping’s visit to France marks a significant milestone as Beijing and Paris celebrate 60 years since the establishment of diplomatic relations. France was the first Western country to formally recognize the People’s Republic of China on January 27, 1964. This historic relationship sets the stage for Xi’s discussions with French President Emmanuel Macron and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on May 6 in Paris. However, the backdrop of this celebratory visit is marked by a deteriorating global security climate. The war in Ukraine has entered its third year, and at least 34,683 Palestinians have been killed in Israel’s ongoing bomb
