China's Xi praises French ties as Macron prepares to talk trade

Open this photo in gallery: France’s Prime Minister Gabriel Attal (second from the right) greets China’s President Xi Jinping at Orly airport, south of Paris, on May 5.STEPHANE DE SAKUTIN/Getty Images President Xi Jinping lauded China's ties with France as an international model on Sunday as he arrived in Paris for a rare visit against a backdrop of mounting trade disputes with the EU. French President Emmanuel Macron is set to urge Xi to reduce trade imbalances and to use his influence with Russia over the war in Ukraine. China's President is due to meet Macron and European Commission chief…