Macron, von der Leyen press China's Xi on trade in Paris talks

PARIS (Reuters) -- French President Emmanuel Macron and European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen urged China to ensure more balanced trade at the start of President Xi Jinping's visit to Paris, during which Macron was also set to press him on Ukraine.

Xi was in Europe for the first time in five years, at a time of growing business tensions that include the European Union investigating Chinese industries such as electric vehicle exports, while Beijing probes mostly French-made brandy imports.

Macron said Europe and China needed to resolve structural difficulties, in particular on trade.

"The future of our continent will also very clearly depend on our capacity to further develop in a balanced way our relationship with China," he said as the three sat at a round table under the gilded ceilings of the Elysee Palace.

Von der Leyen was more blunt, saying the relationship was hurt by unequal market access and Chinese state subsidies.

After the meeting, she told reporters that the EU "cannot absorb massive overproduction of Chinese industrial goods flooding its market."

"Europe will not waver from making tough decisions needed to protect its market," she said.

The EU's more robust stance on trade with China dovetails with Washington's approach. U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen has warned China that Washington would not accept new industries being "decimated" by Chinese imports.

In brief public comments ahead of the talks, Xi said he viewed relations with Europe as a priority of China's foreign policy and that both should stay committed to the partnership.

"As the world enters a new period of turbulence and change, as two important forces in this world, China and Europe should adhere to the positioning of partners, adhere to