By Elizabeth Pineau PARIS (Reuters) -French President Emmanuel Macron and EU Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen were set to press China's President Xi Jinping on Monday to reduce trade imbalances and use his influence on Russia over the war in Ukraine.

French President Emmanuel Macron will seek to press China’s Xi Jinping to use his influence to move Russia toward ending the war in Ukraine during a two-day state visit to France. Both leaders were also expected to discuss trade disputes over electric cars,

French President Emmanuel Macron was on Monday set to warn Chinese leader Xi Jinping against backing Russia in the conflict over Ukraine but also seek to enlist his help in finding an end to the war.Xi is making a state visit to France marking 60 years of diplomatic relations between France and China.

President Xi Jinping lauded China's ties with France as an international model on Sunday as he arrived in Paris for a rare visit against a backdrop of mounting trade disputes with the EU. French President Emmanuel Macron is set to urge Xi to reduce trade imbalances and to use his influence with Russia over the war in Ukraine.

China's President Xi Jinping is embarking on a rare visit to Paris, with French President Emmanuel Macron poised to address pressing issues such as trade imbalances and seek Chinese support

French President Emmanuel Macron will try to persuade the Chinese leader Xi Jinping to use China's leverage over Russia to bring the end of the war against Ukraine closer. Source: AP, as reported by European Pravda Details: The Élysée Palace noted that diplomatic efforts to support Ukraine and put pressure on Russia are a top priority for France.