A Balancing Act Amidst Trade Tensions and Global Conflicts
Chinese President Xi Jinping's two-day state visit to France in November 2023 was marked by a complex interplay of factors. The visit coincided with escalating trade disputes between China and the European Union, the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, and broader geopolitical tensions.
President Xi's arrival in Paris was met with concerns from France regarding trade imbalances and the impact of the Ukraine conflict. French President Emmanuel Macron, while seeking China's support in influencing Russia's actions, also emphasized the need for reciprocity in trade and consideration of European economic security.
Xi's visit presented an opportunity for France to address concerns related to its agricultural exports and intellectual property rights in China. The visit also served as a platform for discussions on climate change, with China's special envoy for climate change expressing concerns about the potential impact of U.S. and European efforts to curb China's dominance in green technologies.
Xi's European tour, including stops in Serbia and Hungary, was seen as an attempt to strengthen economic ties with the EU amidst growing tensions between the U.S. and China. The EU's recent alignment with the U.S. and warnings against aiding Russia's military capacity added another layer of complexity to the visit.
Overall, Xi's visit to France was a delicate balancing act, navigating trade tensions, global conflicts, and the evolving geopolitical landscape. The discussions between Xi, Macron, and Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, aimed to address these pressing issues and find common ground for future cooperation.