French President Emmanuel Macron arrived in China on Wednesday for a three-day visit, accompanied by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. The purpose of the visit is to mend ties with Beijing, an important economic partner, and meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping. Macron last visited China in 2019, while this is Von der Leyen’s first trip in her current role.
During his visit, Macron stressed the importance of maintaining economic ties with China despite the unbalanced trade relations between the two countries. “We have to somehow de-risk our industries […] but we must not disassociate and separate ourselves,” he said. Macron also emphasized that China could play a significant role in finding a “path to peace” in Ukraine, and that China’s close relationship with Russia could facilitate this.
The focus of the visit is expected to be on the Russian invasion of Ukraine, and difficult trade talks, as well as climate-related issues. Macron was expected to warn China against sending arms to Russia and ask the country to use its influence to help peace efforts.
On Thursday, Macron is scheduled to meet with the head of the National People’s Congress, Zhao Leji, and China’s Premier Li Qiang. He will also attend a state dinner with Xi, in the presence of von der Leyen. On Friday, President Xi and a delegation of top politicians, business leaders and celebrities will accompany Macron on a trip to the sprawling southern port of Guangzhou, where the first French ship reached Chinese shores in the 17th century. Macron will answer questions from some of the 1,000 Chinese students at Sun Yat-Sen University and attend a private dinner and tea ceremony with Xi. He will also meet Chinese investors.
Ahead of the visit, Macron and US President Joe Biden discussed the Beijing trip over a phone call. Macron’s office stated that the leaders discussed engaging China to hasten the end of the war in Ukraine. “The two leaders have mentioned their joint willingness to engage China to accelerate the end of the war in Ukraine and take part in building sustainable peace in the region,” said The Elysee Palace.
China has stated its neutrality on the war but emphasizes its “no-limits friendship” with Russia. President Xi Jinping met with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow last month. Macron and Biden also hope that China can contribute to solidarity efforts between the global north and global south to build a joint agenda for climate and biodiversity, according to Macron’s office.
In conclusion, Macron’s visit to China comes at a critical time for economic and diplomatic relations between Europe and China. While the primary focus is on Ukraine, the visit also highlights the importance of climate change and trade relations between the two sides. As the two leaders discuss these issues, the world will be watching closely to see how these discussions develop and the potential impact on the global economy and international relations.
