On May 10, 2024, China’s President Xi Jinping concluded his first tour of Europe in five years, during which he advocated for a greater multipolar world while addressing trade investments amidst the Russia-Ukraine war. This tour was a symbolic time for China’s relationships with France, Serbia, and Hungary, as it was the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and France and the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Hungary and China. The primary objective of President Xi’s visits was to promote a global landscape with reduced dominance from the United States while also managing and mitigating damage to China’s relations with the European Union. This comes amidst escalating trade tensions, including the threat of European tariffs and investigations into Chinese subsidies for electric vehicles, which officials argue have negatively impacted local industries.

France, Serbia, and Hungary welcomed President Xi with open arms. Xi’s visits to Serbia and Hungary were characterized by commitments to strengthen political connections and broaden investments in Eastern and Central Europe, integral components of President Xi’s ambitious “Belt and Road Initiative.” This infrastructure blueprint aims to foster connections across Asia, Africa, and Europe, emphasizing forging close partnerships with Russia. The President of France, Emmanuel Macros, gifted Xi luxury liquor bottles and took him to one of the mountains he traveled to during childhood. Serbia’s President Aleksandar Vucic organized a big welcome reception in which tens of thousands of citizens gathered and waved the Chinese flag. Tamas Solyok, President of Hungary, and Prime Minister Viktor Orban welcomed Xi with military honors and ceremonial gestures, including meetings at various significant locations like the Carmelite Monastery, Prime Minister’s office, and the historic Buda Castle in Budapest, Hungary, on May 9. 

A multipolar world is a worldly scenario where power is distributed among various major centers instead of being dominated by one or a few superpowers. In such a world, multiple countries significantly influence international affairs. However, the issues of USA dominance in global affairs and trade imbalances between China and Europe persist despite efforts to promote a multipolar world and address trade tensions. Despite President Xi’s engagements with European leaders and promises to deepen political ties and investments, concrete solutions to trade disputes and geopolitical tensions remain elusive. The response fails to address several vital tensions sufficiently. This includes the China-Europe trade imbalance and European concerns over Chinese subsidies impacting local industries.

While President Xi Jinping advocates for a multipolar world and deepened political ties with Europe, the continued emphasis on the Belt and Road Initiative and close relations with Russia could inadvertently increase tensions with the United States and other Western powers. Shirley Yu, a political economist at the London School of Economics, revealed that “there should be no illusion that China will bow down to Western pressure to curtail economic partnership with Russia.” The lack of concrete actions to address these trade imbalances and geopolitical conflicts can lead to further deterioration of relations or economic instability. During Xi’s visit to France, President Macron pressed President Xi to tackle China’s trade imbalances with the European Union and leverage his influence over Putin to end the conflict. He invited the President of the European Commission to participate in discussions with Xi, highlighting the need for European unity and improved access to Chinese markets. Macron also urged Xi Jinping to regulate the sale of products and technologies to Russia. 

The response to the problems, as seen by President Xi Jinping’s European tour and subsequent negotiations, requires a reevaluation and possible different strategies to resolve this challenge. A more diversified diplomatic approach is one of the most effective ways to address these issues. This could include participating in multilateral dialogues with major global powers such as the West, as well as emerging economies and international organizations, to create a more inclusive approach to global governance. However, the issue of trade imbalance must be prioritized; there are multiple ways trade challenges could be remedied, such as increasing market access for Europeans in China and promoting fair trade. While keeping close ties with Russia is crucial for China’s geopolitical interests, a new approach is needed to navigate tensions with powerful Western countries. One way this could be facilitated is by balancing economic relationships with Russia with efforts to address concerns raised by Western countries, including regulatory transparency and following international norms. Increasing transparency and the channel of communication with China is critical to building trust and decreasing tensions. President Xi’s government must prioritize candid dialogue with European countries and the European Union to address trade practices and concerns about subsidies. This could involve regular high-level meetings and better information-sharing mechanisms. 

If China focuses on developing sustainable goals, it could likely find common ground with European countries. By prioritizing initiatives promoting economic growth, social inclusion, and environmental sustainability, each party can collaborate to address global problems while fostering mutual trust. China could be more active in strengthening multilateral institutions such as the United Nations. By aiding these institutions and advocating for reforms to reflect the interests of emerging economies better, China could contribute to a more equitable and effective global governance structure. Arguably, the best approach for China’s current issues is increasing diversity in all areas of its government. Diversifying its approach to international problems and debates would benefit China immensely, giving other countries a chance to negotiate better with China. Additionally, China could demonstrate a firmer commitment to conflict resolution and peacebuilding efforts in various regions worldwide, such as Europe and the Middle East.