French President Emmanuel Macron and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen appealed to Chinese President Xi Jinping in Paris on Monday to ensure more balanced trade with Europe at the start of a two-day visit. President Macron also applied pressure on the Ukraine issue.
President Xi Jinping visited Europe for the first time in five years, and the period was marked by business tensions, with the European Union investigating Chinese industries such as exports of electric cars, while the Chinese government was investigating imports of French brandy. It was a time when things were on the rise.
Ms von der Leyen told reporters after she, Mr Macron and Mr Xi met at a round table under the gilded ceiling of the Elysée Palace that the European Union was “funding the massive glut of Chinese manufactured goods flooding the market”. “We can’t absorb production,” he said.
“Europe remains steadfast in taking the tough decisions necessary to protect its markets,” he said, referring to trade investigations and potential sanctions. He said relations between Europe and China were marred by unequal market access and Chinese state aid.
President Macron told Xi that Europe and China need to resolve structural difficulties, especially on the trade front, and that Europe’s future depends in part on its ability to develop balanced relations with China. added.
The EU’s stronger stance on trade with China is consistent with the US government’s approach. US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen has warned China that the US government will not accept new industries that will be “destroyed” by Chinese imports.
In brief public comments ahead of the meeting, President Xi said he views relations with Europe as a priority for China’s foreign policy.
“As the world enters a new era of upheaval and change, China and Europe, as two important powers in the world, should firmly maintain their position as partners and maintain dialogue and cooperation,” Xi said.
Minutes earlier, Macron and Xi shook hands in the courtyard of the Elysée Palace as the Republican Guard band played.
Mr. Macron tends to embrace his opponents, but Mr. Xi does not. Mr. Macron appeared to be gripping Mr. Xi’s arm tightly during the handshake. President Macron entered the Elysée Palace with him.
Afterwards, the two inspected the troops together at an official welcome ceremony.
not unified
In a closed-door meeting, Mr. Xi told Mr. Macron and von der Leyen that he hoped EU institutions would “cultivate a correct understanding of China,” according to Chinese state media.
He agreed that economic and trade tensions should be addressed through dialogue. But he also said China’s overcapacity problem “doesn’t exist from a comparative advantage perspective or from a global demand perspective,” Chinese media reported.
French diplomatic sources said Xi seemed to welcome the country’s comments on the trade imbalance, adding that the purpose of the visit was to convey a message. Officials say it remains to be seen whether they will take action.
The EU’s 27 member states, especially France and Germany, are not unified in their attitudes toward China, which is not conducive to change. Paris has insisted on a tougher stance on EV research, while Berlin wants to proceed more cautiously, the people said.
According to sources familiar with the matter, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz will not accompany Macron and Xi in Paris due to prior commitments.
Some French government officials have privately said they fear Berlin will try to undermine an electric vehicle investigation focused on Chinese automakers BYD, Geely and SAIC. Says. China is an important market for Germany’s export-driven economy and automakers such as BMW and Mercedes-Benz.
France and China can legally support domestic industry, but such policies must be fair and reciprocal, French Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire told the France-China Business Forum.
“We are far from a balanced situation right now,” he added.
France is also urging China to open its market to French agricultural exports and resolve issues surrounding the French cosmetics industry’s concerns over intellectual property rights.
Jean-Paul Agon, chairman of French cosmetics giant L’Oréal, said at the same business forum that “there is an ongoing dialogue between French and Chinese companies and authorities.” “What matters is our shared desire to find solutions and move forward together.”
Meanwhile, China is likely to announce an order for around 50 Airbus planes during President Xi’s visit.
After further talks and a dinner at the Elysée Palace in the evening, Macron is scheduled to take Xi to the Pyrenees on Tuesday. The Pyrenees is an important mountain region to the French president as it is the birthplace of his maternal grandmother.
