PARIS (AP) — Chinese President Xi Jinping arrived Monday at the French presidential palace for talks. 2-day state visit The plan is expected to focus on both the trade dispute and diplomatic efforts to persuade Beijing to use its influence to move Russia toward an end to the war in Ukraine.
In Paris, Xi first took part in talks with French President Emmanuel Macron and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen aimed at addressing a wide range of EU concerns. In his opening remarks, President Macron said the meeting would first discuss trade issues and how to ensure “fair competition”, then discuss Ukraine and the war in the Middle East.
President Macron said relations between Europe and China faced challenges and that “we are at a turning point in history.”
The purpose of the talks is to “share both common positions and concerns and try to overcome them, because the future of our continent clearly depends on our ability to develop a balanced relationship with China.” Because it also depends on the situation.”
Mr Macron, a strong advocate of Europe’s economic sovereignty, wants to raise French concerns about China’s anti-dumping probe into cognac and other European brandies, as well as tensions over areas such as French cosmetics.
In a recent speech he said: criticized the trade practices of both China and China. And the US is increasing protection and subsidies.
At the beginning of the meeting in Paris, President Xi said, “Today’s world has entered a new era of upheaval and change.”
“As two important powers in the world, China and Europe… should continue to make new contributions to world peace and development,” he said.
EU started an investigation China’s subsidies were applied last fall, and tariffs may be imposed on electric vehicles exported from China.
“The European Union and China want good relations,” von der Leyen said. “We have substantial economic relations with the EU and China. …However, this relationship is also subject to challenges, for example due to state-induced overcapacity, unequal market access and overdependence. ”
Paris will be the first stop on Xi’s European tour as he aims to rebuild relations amid global tensions.After France on Monday and Tuesday, he plans to head To Serbia and Hungary.
France hopes the talks will help persuade China to use its influence with Russia to “contribute to resolving the conflict” in Ukraine, a French presidential official said.Russian President Vladimir Putin recently announced I am planning to visit China this month..
He said Macron plans to pressure Xi over supplies from Chinese companies that are supporting Russia’s war effort despite EU sanctions. China claims neutrality in the Ukraine conflict. The official, who was not authorized to remain anonymous in line with presidential policy, added that France also wants China to maintain dialogue with Kiev.
Last year, Macron appealed to President Xi to “bring Russia back to its senses,” but Beijing took no significant action on this call.
“French authorities are ultimately pursuing two contradictory objectives,” said Marc Julienne, director of the Asian Studies Center at the French Institute of International Relations. “On the one hand, to convince Mr. Xi that it is in Mr. Xi’s interest to help European countries put pressure on Vladimir Putin to end the war; on the other hand, to deter the Chinese president from handing over weapons to his Russian friends. It’s for good reason.”
“In short, we think Mr. Xi will help us, but we also fear that Mr. Xi will help Mr. Putin,” Julienne wrote.
France is preparing to host the event summer olympicsMacron said he would Ask Mr. Xi to use his influence To make the Olympics a “moment of diplomatic peace.”
The debate will also draw attention from Washington a month before President Joe Biden is scheduled to make an official visit to France.
President Xi’s visit commemorates the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between France and China. President Macron will visit China in April 2023.President Macron caused controversy when he said “France” during his visit. Won’t blindly follow the US By getting involved in a crisis that is not their concern, they are clearly referring to China’s demands for unification with Taiwan.
Several groups, including the International Campaign for Tibet and the French Federation for Human Rights, called on President Macron to put human rights at the center of his talks with Xi. Protesters demonstrated in Paris demanding freedom for Tibet after President Xi arrived in Paris on Sunday.
Amnesty International has called on President Macron to release Uyghur economics professor Ilham Tokhti and other imprisoned activists who were sentenced to life imprisonment in China in 2014 for promoting separatism.
On Monday morning, media watchdog group Reporters Without Borders held a protest in front of the Arc de Triomphe, condemning Xi’s visit and calling the Chinese president “one of the biggest plunderers of press freedom.” The group says 119 journalists are imprisoned in the country.
In an interview published on Sunday, President Macron said he intended to express his concerns about human rights.
A formal ceremony will be held at the Les Invalides monument later on Monday, ahead of bilateral talks at the Elysée presidential palace. Mr Macron and Mr Xi will close the France-China Economic Forum in the near future, after which they will attend an official dinner with their wives.
The second day of your visit should be a more personal moment.
President Macron on Tuesday invited Xi to visit the Tourmalet Pass in the Pyrenees. It is where President Xi spent his childhood visiting his grandmother. The visit was intended as a mutual gesture after Mr. Xi took Mr. Macron to the Guangdong Governor’s Palace, where his father once lived, last year.
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Associated Press writers Angela Charlton in Paris and Stephen Graham in Berlin contributed to this story.
