Xi Jinping Visits France, Serbia, and Hungary Accompanied by Security and Foreign Affairs Chiefs

Visit to Europe After Over 5 Years

Chinese President Xi Jinping will make a state visit to three European countries (France, Serbia, Hungary) over six days starting on the 5th.

Chinese President Xi Jinping. [Image source=Yonhap News]

According to China Central Television (CCTV) on the 5th, President Xi departed from Beijing in the morning by a special plane to his first destination, France. Accompanying him on this trip are his wife Peng Liyuan, Cai Qi, director of the General Office of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and the fifth-ranking official in the official hierarchy as well as head of the security line (member of the Politburo Standing Committee), and Wang Yi, director of the CPC Central Foreign Affairs Office (also serving as Foreign Minister), the chief diplomat.

This is Xi’s first visit to Europe in over five years since March 2019. France is the only Western country that maintains close exchanges with China. President Emmanuel Macron met with Wang Yi, China’s Foreign Minister, in February this year and said, "France maintains strategic autonomy and is willing to strengthen strategic cooperation with China to jointly safeguard peace and stability."

Earlier, the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that President Xi will hold talks with French President Emmanuel Macron to exchange views on China-France and China-European Union (EU) relations as well as international and regional issues.