Macron puts trade and Ukraine as top priorities as China’s Xi opens European visit in France

By SYLVIE CORBET
Associated Press

PARIS (AP) — French President Emmanuel Macron has put trade disputes and Ukraine-related diplomatic efforts at the top of the agenda for talks with visiting Chinese President Xi Jinping. Macron said the talks included lifting immediate tariff threats on French Cognac exports. The Chinese leader arrived in France to open his European tour. Xi first joined a meeting with Macron and the European Commission president meant to address broader European Union concerns on trade and security issues. Macron said Monday that France hopes China’s influence on Moscow would help to move Russia toward ending the war in Ukraine. Xi’s European trip is his first in five years. He will go to Serbia and Hungary next.