What to expect from Xi's Europe visit

In Paris, Xi will have a tête-à-tête with French President Fran?ois Hollande and Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius. This year marks the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between France and the People's Republic of China as well as the 10th anniversary of their comprehensive strategic partnership.

But talks on the Conference of Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP 21), to be held in Paris next year, are likely to dominate Xi's meeting. During the meeting on March 26, a €800-million investment contract between PSA Peugeot-Citroen and China's Dongfeng Motor Corporation is likely to be signed.

Sino-German ties have developed into what many call a "special relationship". Trade relations are booming and Sino-German high-level consultations are unparalleled. During a recent phone conversation, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and President Xi discussed the state of bilateral relations and the situation in Ukraine. Both leaders agreed on the importance of finding a peaceful resolution to the issue through dialogue.

Whether EU leaders or Germany alone can push China toward a more proactive stance on Ukraine is questionable. Beijing has to weigh its own respect for territorial integrity and national sovereignty in relation to its ties with Russia before taking a stance on the Ukraine crisis. China's abstention from the UN Security Council Resolution which condemned the referendum in Crimea was an "expression" of its reluctance to take sides. And Xi's visit to Europe is not expected to change that.

Yet in the run-up to Xi's visit to Germany, the situation in Ukraine is not the only problem confronting the international community. Another tricky issue could arise if China seeks to draw too close a parallel between the response of Germany and Japan to World War II. Germany, on its part, has no wish to be drawn into the Sino-Japanese dispute over islands in the East China Sea.

Looking at the bigger picture, Xi's visit to Europe comes relatively early in his presidency and thus offers him an opportunity to better understand the workings of the EU, cement relations with European leaders and build on these relations in the coming years. Yet with Ukraine grabbing the headlines and the only recently signed 2020 Strategic Agenda, Xi has a lot on his plate although expectations in Europe are rather low. Let us hope Xi makes the best of it.

The auther is a research fellow at EU-Asia Centre.