China's President Xi Jinping Arrives in France for State Visit

Chinese President Xi Jinping has arrived in Paris for his first trip to Europe in five years, marking the start of a three-country tour that includes visits to Hungary and Serbia. The trip comes at a time when tensions between Europe and China are mounting over trade disputes and concerns about Beijing's influence on Russia's actions in Ukraine. French President Emmanuel Macron is expected to urge Xi to reduce trade imbalances and use his influence with Russia to end the conflict in Ukraine. However, it is unlikely that Macron's hopes will be easily fulfilled given the current state of trade tensions between Europe and China. The trip also marks a shift in Xi's diplomatic focus, as he has not visited Europe since 2019. His decision to include Russian allies Hungary and Serbia on his itinerary may be seen as a message that could divide Western allies, particularly given China's close ties with Russia.