China's Leader in France: Xi Jinping Visits Europe First Time in 5 Years

Chinese President Xi Jinping began his announced European tour and arrived in France the day before on his first state visit since the coronavirus pandemic.  

This was reported by CCTV.

According to the report, Xi arrived in Paris at 15:40 local time. He was met at Orly Airport by French Prime Minister Gabriel Attal.

In a statement on the occasion of his arrival, the Chinese leader said he intends to meet with French President Emmanuel Macron and discuss bilateral relations, China's relations with the EU, as well as international and regional issues.

The French leader intends to ask China to support the so-called Olympic truce during the Games in Paris this summer.

"Paris wants to make sure that China, a major ally of Russian President Putin, does not explicitly support his military actions against Kyiv, and to encourage China to use its leverage over Moscow to help resolve the conflict," Le Monde writes.

On Monday, a large banquet will be organised in honour of the Chinese leader at the presidential palace.

Xi will also meet with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen in Paris. They will discuss both economic and geopolitical issues, including the war in Ukraine.

A Franco-Chinese economic forum is also scheduled for that day.

On Tuesday, the unofficial programme of the visit includes a trip to the Pyrenees by the two leaders, accompanied by their wives, and a lunch in the place where Macron spent his holidays.

As reported, from 5 to 10 May, Xi Jinping will pay state visits to France, Serbia and Hungary. 

Earlier, Hungarian Prime Minister's Chief of Staff Gergely Gyasi said that Chinese President Xi Jinping would visit Budapest between 8 and 10 May as part of his trip to Europe. The Hungarian security service has begun preparing strict security measures for the arrival of the Chinese delegation in Budapest in early May.