During his visit to France, President Xi Jinping of China firmly rejected criticism of his country's close ties with Russia amid the Ukraine war, opposing the blame and a potential new cold war. While defending China's non-involvement in the crisis, he faced pressure from French President Macron and Ursula von der Leyen of the European Commission to use his influence on Moscow. The talks also touched on trade imbalances, with both sides announcing agreements in various sectors. The European leaders emphasized the need to address China's subsidized exports, and the war's impact on European economies, while seeking to maintain a dialogue with China. The visit concluded with a joint call for an "Olympics truce" and discussions about the ongoing anti-dumping investigation targeting European brandy. The leaders expressed hopes for a balanced partnership but acknowledged the need for reciprocity in trade relations.