As Macron embarks on China tour, reciprocity is the word

French President Emmanuel Macron waits for the arrival of Turkey's President Tayyip Erdogan at the Elysee Palace in Paris, France, January 5, 2018. REUTERS/Benoit Tessier

PARIS (Reuters) - President Emmanuel Macron's visit to China next week will be the first by a major European leader since the Communist party's recent leadership congress, and he will use it to try to secure greater access for French companies and forge a yet-to-be-defined Asia policy.

In his first official visit to the world's second-largest economy since his election last May, Macron is expected to push for a more level playing field in trade relations, as France tries to cut a 30 billion-euro trade deficit with China.