Macron visit is raising hopes

Chinese and European observers have voiced high hopes that Beijing and Paris will boost trade and interconnectivity in Eurasia and promote shared growth as French President Emmanuel Macron is set to kick off his state visit to China on Monday.

Macron, the first foreign head of state to visit in 2018, arrives in China at a time that the two permanent members of the United Nations Security Council have made remarkable progress in areas such as nuclear power, space and climate change.

During his first China trip as president, Macron will visit Beijing and Xi'an. He will meet with President Xi Jinping, Premier Li Keqiang and top legislator Zhang Dejiang during the three-day trip.