Hungary and Serbia’s autocratic leaders will warmly welcome China’s Xi during rare European visit

By JUSTIN SPIKE and JOVANA GEC
Associated Press

BUDAPEST, Hungary (AP) — Chinese leader Xi Jinping will spend most of his five-day tour in Europe this week in two small countries at the continent’s eastern half. It’s a region Beijing has used as a foothold for its expanding economic ambitions in Europe. Xi first stops in Paris on Monday and then will travel to Hungary and Serbia. The two nations have autocratic leaders that are seen as China-friendly and close to Russian President Vladimir Putin. Mainstream European leaders have pursued more protectionist policies to limit Beijing and Moscow’s reach on the continent. Hungary and Serbia have courted economic ties with China. Electric vehicles are one example.