What does China want from Europe and why is Xi Jinping visiting France, Serbia and Hungary?

“As two major world powers, China and the EU should remain partners, continue dialogue and cooperation, deepen strategic communication, strengthen strategic mutual trust, strengthen their strategic consensus and Must engage in coordination.” The start of his first European tour since the pandemic reflects the Chinese leader’s aim. Xi told the EU it would be considered a geopolitical power if it behaved as such and was independent from the United States, In a first achievement, more symbolic than transcendent, Xi Jinping has called for an Olympic truce on the occasion of the summer games in the French capital.

The Chinese president and his wife, former opera singer Peng Liyuan, arrived in the French capital on Sunday, where the young Gabriel Attal, the prime minister, welcomed them at Orly airport. The official agenda of the state visit did not begin until Monday. French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife Brigitte welcomed the Chinese couple at the Elysee, where they dined with less fanfare than at Versailles, but with all the honors.

This Tuesday they will go to Tourmalet, one of the stages of the Tour. Macron spent his summers in the region as a child and in this context he wants to convey to President Xi the importance of China changing its approach to dealing with the war in Ukraine. But Beijing does not even talk about war, this is a conflict in which it will not interfere. They have assured that they will not give away weapons, but Beijing has been defending this for a long time.

France opens gap with Beijing

The fact that this European mini-tour started in France is of particular relevance. China and France celebrated the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations. The initiative was taken before the United States by General de Gaulle in 1964, guided by the spontaneous inspiration of diplomat Henry Kissinger. Since then, China expects “strategic autonomy” from France. That is, do not follow literally what Washington says and give relevance to your relations with Beijing. Xi is keen to ensure that cosmetics and food products and the emblematic French cognac face no barriers to their marketing in the Chinese market.

in an article published in the newspaper Figaro, Xi Jinping indicates: “We welcome more quality French agricultural products and cosmetics to the Chinese market to meet the growing needs of the Chinese people for a better life.” The text is reproduced in English by the People’s Daily, the mouthpiece of the Chinese Communist Party.

The European Union has launched a series of anti-subsidy investigations on Chinese products over fears of China’s industrial overcapacity. dumping in twenty-seven markets, particularly in electric vehicles, batteries, solar panels and other green energy-related products.

Macron wanted the European Commission president, Ursula von der Leyen, to be present at the meeting with Xi in Paris to reinforce the idea that it is the EU as a whole that views the invasion of Chinese electric cars with reluctance. It was good for Xi that his pro-European message was heard by the President of the European Commission.

In recent days, Germany and the United Kingdom have arrested and charged at least six people with alleged espionage and China-related crimes. One of them was the number one adviser on the alternative list for Germany for the European elections.

This approach towards France preceded the visit in April of German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, who was in Beijing with a large group of businessmen. Any conflict with China could lead to losses for German car companies and Berlin wants to avoid this. The EU’s trade deficit with China was 396 billion euros in 2022. 20% of goods are imported from China.

Appeal of the Franco-German axis

There is some resentment, particularly in France and Germany, after the damage caused by energy dependence on Russia has been proven. Paris and Berlin are priority objectives for Beijing, once Rome made a 180-degree turn last March and distanced itself from the Asian power.

At the expense of buying cheap gas from Russia, which was supported by Social Democratic Chancellor Gerhard Schröder and Christian Democrat Angela Merkel, Berlin created a relationship of dependency with Moscow that allowed the Kremlin to rise geopolitically. The EU has handed over security to the US, production to China and energy supplies to Russia. Theoretically it wants to promote its strategic autonomy but this is impossible without a coordinated course by the Twenty-Seven.

“Xi’s main concern is to continue developing strategic understanding with Europe.”

Julio Rios, advisor emeritus to the China Policy Observatory

In such a situation, Xi is looking for a strong negotiator for the EU in France. “The main concern for shipping is the continuation of strategic understanding with Europe. Following the visit of German Chancellor Olaf Scholz to Beijing, the idea has been emphasized that Europe needs to think for itself about relations with China and take steps Decision autonomously. For China, relations with Europe are very important. Xi wants a framework of trust so that the EU does not automatically join Washington’s positions.” China Policy Observatory Emeritus Advisor of.

Beijing’s message is clear. He told President Macron, as he had already done with Scholz, that “America’s conflict with China is not the same as Europe’s with China. The US is fighting for hegemony. The EU is not like that, Even though this is part of what the West calls “the EU has more flexible frameworks than the US when it comes to building relations.”

However, not all EU countries view China the same way. There are some who are in line with the United States, such as the Baltics or Poland, and who believe that if there is anyone who can listen to Putin, it is Xi. However, China has put on the table its 12 points on what it called the conflict.

“In short, he does not believe that Russia is right, but his reasons are right. And he adheres to the principle of non-intervention. Putin visits Beijing in mid-May. China is interested in ending the war, But that is not the case. Julio Rios says, “The Fund believes that it is Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky who has moved his country in this direction by joining NATO,” adding that he believes China Not going to change its position on Russia one bit. It seems pure hypocrisy for the US to demand that they not send weapons to Russia, while Washington militarily supports Taiwan, which it considers its territory. .

Interest in Central Europe and the Balkans

After immersion in the French language, Xi Jinping will first visit Serbia and then Hungary. China built intensive ties with the so-called 16+1, the countries of Central and Eastern Europe, as well as the Balkans and Greece, which were stable at this time. This is an approach common to many EU countries and other countries outside the Community Club. Serbia and Hungary are representatives on that forum. Hungary is inside the EU and Serbia is outside. Chinese investment is very attractive for these countries.

China has historical relations with Serbia. On this occasion, Xi’s visit coincides with a death anniversary. This May 7 marks the 25th anniversary of the NATO bombing of the Chinese Embassy in Belgrade. The US presented it as “an accident” in which three people died. Since then, China views NATO as an aggressive alliance.

Serbia is China’s preferred partner in the Balkans. In January, the Balkan country announced an agreement through which China can invest about 2 billion euros in wind and solar plants and a hydrogen production plant, according to Reuters agency.

The final leg of his trip will take Xi to the Hungary of Prime Minister Viktor Orban, Russia’s closest leader to Putin. He will end his European tour in Hungary on Friday, May 10.

The central European country has become an increasingly important production hub in Europe for Chinese auto suppliers, including electric vehicle makers. Hungary could also help Chinese companies deal with current and future tariffs in the EU.

For Julio Rios, Xi Jinping is not about getting closer to countries that are close to Putin, but about getting closer to countries that have long been relevant partners. His visit shows how the EU needs a common foreign policy to be united where fundamental decisions, except perhaps enlargement, are made by majority, not consensus. It also shows how a country like Hungary is in and out of the EU, and how Serbia, which aspires to join, has the potential to become another Hungary.

In short, Xi aims to be able to trust Europe in a broader sense and not succumb to the siren song on the other side of the Atlantic. And for France, and for the EU, to seek ways to deal with the other global superpower and request its intervention to prevent the war in Ukraine from lasting years. For China, this will be achieved only if NATO does not try to recreate the Cold War. His thesis is not Russian, but from a Western perspective it is light years.