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CHINESE leader Xi Jinping has arrived in Europe on a mission to ease escalating tensions that threaten to ignite a trade war between China and the EU, reports London’s Financial Times.
On his first trip to the region since 2019, President Xi will face tough talks in France on trade and Ukraine before enjoying a warmer welcome in Serbia and Hungary, where soaring Chinese investment underlines both the benefits of close ties with Beijing and EU divisions on international policy.
‘China is determined not to let its relationship with Europe slide further towards the direction of its ties with the US,’ said Yu Jie, an analyst at UK think-tank Chatham House. ‘There will be a renewed charm offensive from Beijing, but it will equally give the EU tough warnings on trade protectionism.’
President Xi’s top priority for his six-day visit would be damage limitation, Chinese officials said. The president is intent on countering a litany of trade investigations by the EU into Chinese companies, including a blockbuster anti-subsidy probe into electric vehicles expected to conclude in weeks.
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