(Recasts, adds further details and context throughout) BEIJING, Dec 4 (Reuters) -

French President Emmanuel Macron met Chinese leader Xi Jinping in Beijing on Thursday, seeking stronger commercial ties, as the European Union prepares to toughen up its trade rules. A large business delegation is accompanying Macron on his fourth state visit to the world's second-largest economy.

Macron will travel to Chengdu in southwestern Sichuan province on Friday, accompanied by Xi, lavish treatment since the Chinese president seldom joins visiting leaders outside the capital, but Xi is not expected to sign off on a long-awaited Airbus order or offer Paris relief from duties on EU brandy imports, 99% of which come from France. Beijing wants to ease trade frictions with Brussels over its heavily subsid

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