Chinese President Xi Jinping has arrived in France for an unusual state visit to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries. French President Emmanuel Macron is expected to call on Chinese leaders to reduce trade imbalances and use leverage against Russia over the Ukraine war.
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The two-day visit, President Xi’s first trip to Europe in five years, comes at a time of escalating trade tensions between Europe and China.
“We want to obtain reciprocity of exchange and take into account the element of economic security,” President Macron said in an interview with a French newspaper. La Tribune on sunday.
European Union member states, particularly France and Germany, are divided over their attitude toward China.
“In Europe, there is no unanimity on this, because some parties still see China essentially as a market of opportunity,” Macron said, without mentioning the country by name.
Such divisions could undermine the EU’s ability to influence the Asian giant.
Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Lin Jian said the country looks forward to cooperating with France.
“This visit is an opportunity to make new contributions to world peace, stability, development and progress,” Prime Minister Abe said at a press conference.
On Sunday afternoon, as Xi’s plane touched down, demonstrators gathered in central Paris to demand that the French government question the Chinese president about Beijing’s repressive tactics against its critics.
ukraine question
After arriving, Xi said that the visit would bring “strategic convergence” between China and France, and that the further development of bilateral relations would bring “stability and positive energy in a turbulent world,” according to a document provided to reporters at the airport. He said he hopes to contribute to the .
But observers say Mr Xi’s visit, which includes a dinner at the Elysée Palace and a trip to the Pyrenees, risks falling short of diplomatic success for Mr Macron.
“France and the European Union expect Xi Jinping to use his influence against Russia, but Xi Jinping has nothing to offer regarding Ukraine,” said a former European diplomat on condition of anonymity. told Agence France-Presse.
Mr. Xi and Mr. Macron are scheduled to discuss a variety of issues, but the main purpose is to “point out that for Europe, the first issue with China is China’s position on Ukraine,” a source close to the French government said. told AFP.
The Chinese government claims to be a neutral party in the Ukraine conflict but has been criticized for refusing to condemn the Russian government’s attack.
During his 2023 trip to China, Mr Macron had already called on Mr Xi to “bring Russia back to its senses” on the Ukraine issue and urged him not to hand over weapons to Moscow.
Macron is expected to express “concerns” about the activities of certain companies that could be directly involved in or significantly contribute to Russia’s war effort, a member of his team said.
“We will continue to engage with China.”
Mr. Macron has signaled that he has not given up on the idea of bringing Mr. Xi to his side.
“It is not in China’s interest today to have a Russia that destabilizes the international order,” the French president said in an interview. economist Published on Thursday. “We need to work with China to build peace.”
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, who has called for Beijing to play a greater role in ending the war in Ukraine, is expected to join Mr Macron and Mr Xi in talks on Monday.
President Macron said he would ask the Chinese president to help achieve that goal when he visits Paris, which is preparing to host the Olympics this summer.
Although there is a historical tradition that peace should reign during the Olympic Games, the opening of the Games in Beijing in August 2008 did not stop Russia from invading Georgia.
“East Opening”
From France, President Xi will visit Hungary and Serbia, two European countries that maintain warm relations with Russia, from May 8 to 10.
Despite its small size, Hungary has attracted large-scale Chinese projects in recent years, mainly related to battery and electric vehicle manufacturing.
Since returning to power in 2010, Prime Minister Viktor Orban has championed an “Open East” foreign policy, calling for closer economic ties with China, Russia and other Asian countries.
Last October, the Hungarian prime minister was the only EU leader to attend President Xi’s flagship One Belt, One Road summit in Beijing.
(with news wire)
