Tough talks ahead as China’s Xi Jinping touches down in Paris for European trip

President Xi Jinping has arrived in France for his big trip to Europe – it’s been five years since his last visit and EU-Chinese relations have hit a rocky road. There’s also been the pandemic, the Russia-Ukraine war, and now a global trade battle is brewing. For President Xi, this European tour is as much about trying to get the relationship on an even keel as projecting Chinese power to the world. France is first on the red carpet itinerary. Xi Jinping is meeting President Emmanuel Macron and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. Image: A guard of honour…