On his first visit to Europe in five years, the Chinese president, Xi Jinping, appears intent on seizing opportunities to loosen the continent’s bonds with the United States and forge a world freed of American dominance.

When Chinese leader Xi Jinping arrived in Italy for a state visit in 2019, he was given a lavish welcome, with private tours of Roman landmarks and a dinner serenaded by opera singer Andrea Bocelli, topped with a crowning flourish – Italy’s decision to join Xi’s signature Belt and Road infrastructure initiative.

China’s president arrives as EU anti-subsidy investigations and tensions over espionage, Ukraine and Taiwan continue

Ukraine, trade and investment are expected to dominate Chinese leader Xi Jinping’s first trip to Europe in five years, as the Asian giant rebuilds its foreign relations after a prolonged absence during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Chinese leader to embark on first European tour in five years, but the pandemic, Ukraine war and change in China policy have sent ties into spiral France wants Chinese investment in its electric vehicle sector while championing Brussels' tougher trade measures against Beijing When Chinese President Xi Jinping touches down on European soil for the first time in half a decade on Sunday,

Xi Jinping heads to Europe on Sunday to defend China’s “no limits” alliance with Russia, first to key Ukraine backer France, then to Serbia and Hungary, which have close ties to the Kremlin.The world’s second-biggest economy is seeking to deepen political and economic ties in Europe to counterbalance difficult relations with rival Washington.