Emmanuel Macron desires “coordination” with Beijing on the “crises” in Ukraine and the Middle East | EUROtoday

Published on : 05/06/2024 – 12:32

3 minutes

Ukraine, the Middle East and commerce on the agenda for this primary assembly. French President Emmanuel Macron known as, Monday April 6, at first of his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping's state go to to France, for “coordination” with Beijing on the “major crises” in Ukraine and the Middle East.

The French chief additionally desires “fair rules for all” in commerce between Europe and China.

“The future of our continent will also very clearly depend on our ability to continue to develop relations with China in a balanced manner,” he mentioned on the Élysée on the opening of a three-way assembly attended by by the President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen.

Read additionallyXi Jinping's go to to France: “The relationship between France and China has deteriorated”

“China and the European Union have a shared interest in peace and security,” burdened Ursula von der Leyen, affirming her “willpower to cease the Russian battle of aggression in opposition to Ukraine and to ascertain a simply and peaceable peace. sustainable”.

“We have an interest in demonstrating that our collaboration is producing its effects,” insisted the President of the Commission, referring to the “challenge” of the “substantial economic relationship” between Brussels and Beijing.

Chinese President Xi Jinping, for his part, pleaded for his country and the European Union (EU) to strengthen their “strategic coordination” and remain “partners”.

“As two main world powers, China and the EU ought to stay companions, proceed dialogue and cooperation, deepen strategic communication, improve strategic mutual belief, consolidate strategic consensus and perform strategic coordination.” declared the Chinese leader at the start of the trilateral meeting.

A more personal getaway in the Pyrenees

Arriving in France on Sunday for a two-day state visit, Chinese President Xi Jinping is coming to celebrate 60 years of Franco-Chinese diplomatic relations.

After a ceremony Monday afternoon at the Invalides, he must return to the Élysée for another one-on-one interview with Emmanuel Macron, then an official dinner. The two heads of state will travel to the Pyrenees on Tuesday for a more personal getaway, accompanied by their wives.

Read additionallyXi Jinping in France: Chinese diplomacy of the “personal touch”

The goal of this lunch on the Col du Tourmalet – the place, as a baby, Emmanuel Macron spent his holidays together with his grandmother – is eminently diplomatic: to interrupt the imposing protocol to ascertain a extra direct dialogue, significantly on Ukraine.

On the delicate difficulty of human rights, Emmanuel Macron says he prefers to debate “disagreements” fairly “behind closed doors”. Paris additionally didn’t wish to make the Taiwan difficulty a precedence, despite the fact that it’s on the coronary heart of the robust tensions between the United States and China.

With AFP