The toast of France, Chinese President Xi embarks on state visit with deal-making on tap

Chinese President Xi Jinping, center, tastes local food during a visit before a dinner at the town hall in Lyon, central France, Tuesday, March 25, 2014. Xi Jinping arrived in France for a three-day state visit. (AP Photo/Laurent Cipriani, Pool) (The Associated Press)

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Chinese President Xi Jinping, center, Lyon's mayor Gerard Collomb, left, and French foreign minister Laurent Fabius, second right, listen to a local unidentified businessman before a dinner at the town hall in Lyon, central France, Tuesday, March 25, 2014. Xi Jinping arrived in France for a three-day state visit. (AP Photo/Laurent Cipriani, Pool) (The Associated Press)

Chinese President Xi Jinping, right, signs a guest book as he is welcomed by Lyon's mayor Gerard Collomb, second right, and French foreign minister Laurent Fabius, left, before a dinner at the town hall in Lyon, central France, Tuesday, March 25, 2014. Xi Jinping arrived in France for a three-day state visit. (AP Photo/Laurent Cipriani, Pool) (The Associated Press)

LYON, France – Chinese President Xi Jinping was the toast of France during a state visit — days after China ended an anti-dumping, anti-subsidy investigation of French wine.

Deal-making was the main order of business during Xi's three-day visit. French officials said dozens of commercial accords in sectors like nuclear energy, aerospace and agribusiness were expected.

The French government wants to cut into France's 25.8 billion-euro ($35.6 billion) trade deficit with China, representing about 40 percent of France's total trade deficit. By lifting the wine probe last week, China erased one vestige of a bitter dispute with the EU initially centering on solar panels last year.

Xi heads to Paris on Wednesday from the southwestern city of Lyon, where he began his visit late Tuesday with a red-carpet reception.