Xi Jinping to make first trip to Europe since 2019

Chinese President Xi Jinping will visit the European Union for the first time in about five years as tensions mount over a range of issues including trade, spy allegations and Beijing's support for Russia.

Xi will travel to France and Hungary during the trip that runs May 5-10, China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement on Monday, without providing a detailed agenda.

The Chinese leader will also make a stop in Serbia, which is not an EU member, during the visit that's expected to fall around the 25th anniversary of the deadly US bombing of the Chinese embassy in Belgrade. That could spotlight an event that sparked anti-US protests at home and helped seed Beijing's distrust of NATO. Beijing is pushing to repair relations with Europe as Brussels has become more assertive in responding to China's trade policies. The tour is "vitally important to promote ties between China and France, Serbia, Hungary and the EU at large," said Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian.