France, July 1 -- China's top diplomat has begun a week-long European visit which Beijing says will highlight ties as an "anchor of stability" in a world in turmoil.

Wang Yi's tour will take him to the European Union's headquarters in Brussels as well as France and Germany as China seeks to improve relations with the bloc as a counterweight to superpower rival the United States.

But deep frictions remain over the economy, including a massive trade deficit of €313,5 billion between China and the EU, and Beijing's close ties with Russia despite Moscow's war in Ukraine.

"The world is undergoing an accelerated evolution of a century-old change, with unilateralism, protectionism and bullying behaviour becoming rampant," Chinese foreig...