Emmanuel Macron welcomed, Monday May 6, the desire expressed by his Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinping, to “ask all stakeholders for an Olympic truce during our upcoming Games”. “We think together” that this initiative “can be an opportunity to work towards a lasting settlement in full respect of international law”, assured the head of state. The French president also welcomed ” the engagements “ Chinese “refrain from selling any weapons” in Moscow, during a press statement alongside Xi Jinping, visiting Paris on May 6 and 7.
For his part, the Chinese president called not to “to dirty” his country on the Ukrainian issue, Beijing playing, according to him, a “positive role” to find a peaceful solution to the war. “We oppose the use of the Ukrainian crisis to blame others, smear a third country and start a new Cold War”said Mr. Xi in reference to recurring criticism from the West on the China-Russia relationship.
Earlier in the day, Mr. Macron called, in front of his counterpart, for “fair rules for all” in trade between the European Union and China – while disputes accumulate between the Twenty-Seven and the Middle Kingdom -, and to coordination “decisive” on the war in Ukraine. “I thank the president [chinois, Xi Jinping] (…) of his openness regarding the provisional measures on French cognac and his wish not to see them applied”also declared the French head of state to the press at the end of the day.
Emmanuel Macron, who still hopes to place France in “balancing power” in the Sino-American standoff, celebrates 60 years of the establishment of bilateral diplomatic relations between France and the People’s Republic of China. “The international situation, very clearly, requires this Euro-Chinese dialogue more than ever”he said at the opening of discussions with his Chinese counterpart, while certain members of the opposition, such as the candidate of the Socialists and Place Publique in the European elections in June, Raphaël Glucksmann, criticize him for “roll out the red carpet” in a way “obsequious” has a “dictator”.
“The future of our continent will also very clearly depend on our ability to continue to develop relations with China in a balanced manner”said Emmanuel Macron at the Elysée at the opening of a three-way meeting in the presence of the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen.
“China and the EU must remain partners,” says Xi
“As two major world powers, China and the EU must remain partners, continue dialogue and cooperation, strengthen mutual trust, consolidate their consensus and carry out strategic coordination”Xi Jinping declared to his interlocutors at the start of this trilateral meeting. “This is so as to promote the steady and healthy development of China-EU relations and continuously make new contributions to world peace and development.”, continued the number one of the Asian superpower. The Twenty-Seven officially consider China as a partner, but also as a competitor and a systemic rival.
Emmanuel Macron, for his part, explained that he wanted to raise “in all friendship and trust” THE “concerns, to try to overcome them”warning against “a logic of decoupling which would be harmful” on the economic level, and advocating “fair rules for all”.
The president of the European executive, Ursula von der Leyen, also called for a “equal access to markets”. Before the meeting, she insisted that Europe could not “not accept” THE “unfair trade” caused by the influx of electric vehicles or Chinese steel made using “massive subsidies”. The EU “will not hesitate to make firm decisions” if necessary for “protect your economy and security”she also declared.
Trade disputes are numerous and could lead to increases in customs taxes. Threatened with being caught between the American and Chinese economies, massively aided by their public power, the EU has in recent months increased investigations into Chinese state subsidies to several industrial sectors, particularly electric vehicles.
EU and France urge Beijing to “use all its influence” on Russia to stop the war
After a formal welcome with great fanfare at the start of Monday afternoon at the Invalides, the Franco-Chinese duo had a more political tête-à-tête on their agenda, which was to be followed by statements to the press and a banquet at the Elysée.
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Emmanuel Macron intends to ask his Chinese counterpart to support the “Olympic Truce” during the Paris Games this summer. There “coordination” with Beijing on “major crises” in Ukraine and the Middle East is “absolutely decisive”, he insisted on Monday. Paris wants to ensure that China, the main ally of the President of the Russian Federation, Vladimir Putin, does not fall into clear support for Russia’s war effort against kyiv. Even “encourage him to use the levers” which it has in Moscow for “contribute to a resolution of this conflict”according to the Elysée.
“China and the EU have a shared interest in peace and security”underlined Ursula von der Leyen, affirming her “determination to stop the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine and to establish a just and lasting peace”. “We have an interest in demonstrating that our collaboration produces its effects”insisted the President of the Commission, referring to the ” challenge “ of the “substantial economic relationship” between Brussels and Beijing.
The EU and France are therefore counting on China to “use all its influence on Russia” to stop the war in Ukraine, she continued after the interview. Ursula von der Leyen and Emmanuel Macron also called on the Chinese president to do “more efforts to limit the delivery of dual equipment to Russia [pouvant être utilisés à des fins civiles et militaires] who find themselves on the battlefield” in Ukraine, she added.
The President of the European Commission also said “confident” on the fact that China would continue to temper Russian nuclear threats. “President Xi has played an important role in de-escalating Russia’s reckless nuclear threats and I am confident [qu’il] will continue to do so”declared Ursula von der Leyen in the French capital, while Moscow has just ordered the upcoming holding of nuclear exercises.
Emmanuel Macron and Xi Jinping will travel to the Pyrenees on Tuesday for a more personal getaway, accompanied by their wives.