France and the European Union are focusing on joint efforts with China to solve key global problems at the start of Chinese President Xi Jinping’s trip to Europe. “China is important for the EU to tackle major global challenges,” said European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on Monday in a three-way meeting with Xi and his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron at the Élysée Palace in Paris. She cited the fight against the climate crisis as one such challenge. “In addition, both China and the EU have a common interest in peace and security and in the effective functioning of the rules-ba…