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A joint press conference by Xi Jinping and Emmanuel Macron after talks on the first day of the visit glossed over the thorny question of trade relations between their two countries.
A bottle of exclusive Louis XIII cognac was among the gifts Macron gave Xi, a nod to Beijing opening an anti-dumping investigation into French cognac.
Macron praised his counterpart for his “open attitude” towards the inquiry and added France hoped its products could continue having access to the Chinese market.
Earlier, the European Commission president, Ursula von der Leyen, said she was “convinced that if the competition is fair” from China, then Europe “will have thriving durable economies”.
But she said the “imbalances” caused by state support for Chinese industry leading to cut-cost products threatened jobs in Europe, and that was “a matter of great concern”.
“Europe will not waver from making tough decisions needed to protect its economy and security,” she said.
Read the full story here, from Lisa O’Carroll and Kim Willsher
Xi begins second day of Europe visit
Xi Jinping, the Chinese president, is beginning the second day of his closely-watched trip to Europe.
He will have lunch with the French president, Emmanuel Macron, before heading to Serbia.
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