Macron to visit China next week

BEIJING, Jan 02 (AFP): French President Emmanuel Macron will visit China for three days starting January 8, the Chinese foreign ministry said Tuesday, after the young leader declared the need for a stronger Europe to "face China".
This will be Macron's first state visit to the country, and the first by a European Union nation leader since the ruling Communist Party's 19th national congress in October.
President Xi Jinping secured a second five-year term as the head of the party at the twice-a-decade political meeting, becoming the most powerful Chinese leader in years.
News of the trip comes after Macron, 40, who campaigned on a pro-globalisation platform, called on France and all of Europe to return to its former glory during a televised New Year's address Sunday.