Chinese President Xi Jinping begins charm offensive in Europe amid growing uncertainty about future U.S. support for allies

Key Facts

Chinese President Xi Jinping kicked off a three-country trip to Europe on Sunday with the continent divided over how to deal with Beijing’s growing power and the U.S.-China rivalry.
But Europe and China have hefty economic ties — EU-China trade is estimated at 2.3 billion euros per day — and Xi appears determined to rebuild and deepen relations with European leaders after a prolonged absence prompted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
After arriving, Xi said he hoped the visit would bring ‘’strategic convergence” between China and France, and that further developing their relations would contribute to ‘’stability and positive energy in an turbulent world,” according to a text provided to reporters at the airport.
They will also meet with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, who is expected to join Macron in pushing for fairer trade policies and for China to use its leverage with Russia to push it toward ending the war in Ukraine.