Xi Jinping’s first visit to Europe in the last five years has attracted attention from Western media and become the subject of analysis.
The New York Times notes that the Chinese leader was “outraged” by criticism directed at his country regarding the conflict in Ukraine.
“We are against using the crisis to shift blame to a third party, tarnish its reputation, and ignite a new Cold War,” Xi stated.
Macron and von der Leyen exerted pressure on the Chinese leader, urging him to use his influence on Moscow and put an end to the conflict; however, no concrete steps were taken besides expressing a shared desire for peace. Nevertheless, the atmosphere between Xi and Macron was described as “friendly and full of mutual congratulations,” and agreements between French and Chinese companies were announced.
CNN points out that Beijing sees Xi’s visit as an “opportunity to present its version of China’s role in the conflict” and to “clarify differences in viewpoints between Washington and its European allies.”
Analysts also note that Xi Jinping seeks to ensure that the outcome of the conflict does not weaken Putin’s position, whom he views as a key ally in countering the United States. The Chinese leader also confirmed his opposition to peaceful conferences on Ukraine without Russia’s participation, including the planned event in Switzerland in June.
Le Figaro notes that discussions between Xi and Macron were accompanied by disagreements on trade issues. While they “pretended” to seek agreement on Ukraine, tension was openly noticeable on trade matters. The publication recalls recent investigations conducted by the European Commission into alleged Chinese dumping in the electric vehicle and solar panel markets, which has caused irritation in Beijing.
During the meeting in Paris, Xi refuted claims about “excessive” Chinese capacities from Europe’s perspective. Xi Jinping emphasized that China is creating a “new energy sector” that contributes to increasing global energy supply and easing global inflation.
