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Talks on trade imbalances and Ukraine war await Chinese president as he first heads to France in pursuit of ‘pragmatic’ European policy, then Serbia and Hungary, before returning to host Vladimir Putin.

  • European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen to meet Chinese President Xi and his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron in Paris to discuss China ties
  • Xi’s trip comes amid barrage of EU trade and competition tools mostly targeting Chinese firms, including dramatic raids in the Netherlands and Poland
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Observers say Ukraine will be high on the agenda when Chinese President Xi Jinping travels to France, Serbia and Hungary next month, while the West will be watching Russian leader Vladimir Putin’s visit to China for signs Beijing is supporting Moscow’s war efforts.

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Carmakers like Dongfeng, Chery and BYD are eyeing production sites in Europe to assemble the next generation of electric vehicles as a foil against the EU’s protectionist tariffs as a brutal price war at home drives more producers offshore in search of fresh markets.

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Former president’s embassy stay raises questions about his plans as he faces multiple criminal investigations. Brazilian police cannot arrest a politician staying at a foreign embassy.

The former US president feted Orban with a tour of his resort, dinner with ex-first lady Melania Trump and musical performance by a band covering Roy Orbison.

Sweden became the 32nd member of Nato in the shadow of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, turning the page on two centuries of non-alignment and capping two years of tortuous diplomacy.

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Prime Minister Viktor Orban confirmed that parliament would move next week to ratify the Nordic country’s accession to the defence alliance.

All European Union countries except Hungary warned Israel against launching an offensive in Rafah that they said would deepen the catastrophe of some 1.5 million refugees crammed into the city.

Magnificent architecture and menacing reminders of war sharpen the senses on a journey around Europe by rail, from London to Brussels to Budapest – as does the arrival of thieves in the night.

China’s top diplomat will try to find openings for Beijing’s interests amid continent’s panic over ex-American leader’s possible return, analysts say.

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Katalin Novak’s decision to show clemency to a man who hid a string of abuses in a state-run children’s home prompted more than a week of public outrage.

On Monday only 51 out of 199 MPs voted on the agenda as almost all members of PM Viktor Orban’s ruling coalition stayed away. Hungary maintains close ties with Russia.

Turkey’s ruling party said Sweden’s tougher stance on Kurdish militants was key to winning approval. Hungary remains only Nato ally not to have ratified Sweden’s accession.

After 20 months of delay, the Turkish general assembly voted 287-55 to approve the application Sweden made in 2022 in response to Russia’s Ukraine invasion.

EU foreign ministers hold separate talks Monday with their Israeli and Palestinian counterparts on the prospects for lasting peace after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu rejected calls for a future two-state solution.

Former Belgian PM should leave office in November but will leave early to stand in the European parliament elections to be held in June. Hungary’s PM Viktor Orban could take job temporarily.

China’s electric vehicle giant is looking to manufacture electric cars and batteries at a new factory in Szeged, in the south of Hungary, the Financial Times reported on Thursday.

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban blocked €50 billion in EU aid for Ukraine, after leaders sidestepped his opposition to agree to open talks with Kyiv on joining the bloc.