PARIS, Jan. 7 (Xinhua) -- French President Emmanuel Macron left Paris Sunday afternoon for his first state visit to China, according to the Elysee Palace.

This makes Macron the first European leader to visit China since last autumn's 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China.

A spokesman for the Chinese Foreign Ministry told media on Friday that Macron's visit to China is of great significance to bilateral ties, and the French president is scheduled to meet with Chinese leaders and attend several events during his three-day visit.

The spokesman also revealed that the French president would visit the Forbidden City in Beijing, and Xi'an, the capital city of northwest China's Shaanxi province and home to the famous Terracotta Warriors.