During a meeting with French President Macron and European Commission chief von der Leyen, Chinese President Xi Jinping highlighted the significance of the partnership between China and the European Union in his opening remarks. Macron urged Xi to cooperate closely with Europe to address the crisis in Ukraine caused by Russia's invasion and to uphold fair global trade regulations as Xi embarked on his state visit to France. Xi's visit to Europe, the first since 2019, also includes planned talks in Serbia and Hungary, with a focus on seeking peace in Ukraine, despite minimal anticipated adjustments in Chinese policy according to analysts.

By selecting France as the primary stop on his European tour, Xi underscored Macron's role as a key EU influencer amid Russia's invasion, revealing the importance China places on Macron as a powerbroker within the EU despite Russia's actions. In a tripartite meeting with von der Leyen, Macron emphasized the necessity of coordination with China on major issues like the crisis in Ukraine and advocated for equitable trade rules between Europe and China. Macron stressed that the future of Europe hinges on maintaining balanced relations with China, while Xi expressed his desire to collaborate with the international community to resolve the conflict caused by Russia's actions in Ukraine, asserting that China is neither a party nor a participant in the conflict. Furthermore, von der Leyen emphasized the need for fair competition with China in global trade and highlighted the significance of addressing current market access disparities in discussions with Xi, underscoring the complexity and importance of the EU's relationship with China.