Chinese President Xi Jinping spent the start of his trip to Europe discussing trade disputes and the war in Ukraine in Paris with French President Emmanuel Macron and European Commission President Ursala von der Leyen.
Both Macron and von der Leyen urged Xi on Monday to use China's influence on Russia to end the conflict. Macron said after the talks that China and France are both committed to respecting the territorial integrity of Ukraine, and welcomed Xi's assurance that he would not supply weapons to Moscow.
The talks were also dominated by trade policy disputes between China and the EU. Both sides have accused the other of unfair practices, and Macron and von der Leyen on Monday demanded that Xi maintain fair trade competition.
Von der Leyen called on Beijing to limit deliveries of goods with potential military uses to Russia, and also threatened China with retaliatory measures in response to its "market distorting practices."
Xi, the general secretary of the Chinese Communist Party as well as the country's president, called for an international peace conference recognized by Russia and Ukraine to end the conflict.
He argued that what is needed is a dialogue between Russia and Ukraine and the creation of an appropriate European peace architecture.
"We refuse to allow the Ukraine crisis to be used to blame others, to drag a third country into the mud and to spark a new Cold War," Xi said in response to criticism of China's close relations with Russia.
Xi contended that his country is striving for peace in the conflict.
At the start of the talks, Xi said that China and Europe should deepen their partnership and strengthen mutual trust amid turbulent changes in the world.
Macron, too, stressed the importance of Europe's relationship with China. "The future of our continent will depend on our ability to continue to develop balanced relations with China," he said.
Trade and economic competition, however, were a point of tension among the leaders.
Von der Leyen sharply criticized China's trade policies, arguing that subsidized Chinese products such as electric vehicles and steel were "flooding the European market," posing a serious threat to European industries.
Subsidized Chinese competition could even lead to "de-industrialization in Europe," she warned.
Von der Leyen stressed that "access to each other's market needs to be reciprocal," saying she had discussed with Xi "how to make real progress on market access."
If unfair trade practices were to continue, von der Leyen warned that the EU was ready to make full use of its "trade defence instruments," including launching investigations via its International Procurement Instrument.
The EU announced last year that it would examine possible tariffs on electric cars from China. Chinese electric vehicle giant BYD has signed a deal to begin manufacturing cars in Hungary, where Xi is scheduled to end his European trip on Friday.
"We will defend our companies, we will defend our economies. We will never hesitate to do so," she said at a joint press conference with Xi and Macron.
"A China that plays fair is good for us all. At the same time, Europe will not waver from making tough decisions needed to protect its economy and its security," she added.
Von der Leyen argued that China could do more to influence Russia over its aggression in Ukraine, although she also praised Xi for playing "an important role in de-escalating Russia's irresponsible nuclear threats."
Xi on Sunday wrote an article for the French newspaper Le Figaro, saying that China wanted to work with France and the international community to find ways to solve the Ukraine crisis.
With regard to the conflict in the Middle East, von der Leyen said that "no effort can be spared in de-escalating tensions and preventing a wider conflict in the region."
She reiterated calls for a ceasefire and the release of hostages, and emphasized support for a two-state solution.
Von der Leyon also expressed hope that China would exert its influence on Iran and "play an important role in limiting the irresponsible proliferation of Iranian ballistic missiles and drones."
Overall, the three-way talks had been an "open and honest exchange," von der Leyen said. She looked forward to celebrating the 50th anniversary of EU-China relations next year.
A Franco-Chinese business meeting and a state banquet were also on Xi's schedule for Monday in Paris.
His arrival in the French capital on Sunday was met with a number of protests, including a demonstration by media rights group Reporters Without Borders in front of the Arc de Triomphe held to criticize the imprisonment of journalists in China.
Separate protesters had also gathered in the French capital calling for a "Free Tibet." The status of the autonomous Chinese region in the Himalayan highlands is disputed, with China's leadership suppressing calls for Tibetan independence.