Pakistan, Dec. 4 -- French President Emmanuel Macron met Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing on Thursday, aiming to strengthen commercial ties as the European Union plans tougher trade rules. Macron is accompanied by a large business delegation on his fourth state visit to China.

Macron will travel to Chengdu on Friday, with Xi joining him-a rare gesture, as the Chinese president seldom travels outside the capital. However, Xi is not expected to finalize a long-awaited Airbus order that could ease duties on EU brandy imports, 99% of which come from France.

China seeks to ease trade frictions with the EU over its heavily subsidized electric vehicle sector, which led to retaliatory tariffs on some European goods. Beijing is cautious, ...