BEIJING — President Emmanuel Macron told President Xi Jinping on Tuesday that France and China must overcome their “differences” as he pressed Beijing on both Ukraine and trade during a three-day state visit to China.
“Sometimes there are differences, but it is our responsibility to overcome them for the greater good,” Macron said at the start of talks in the Great Hall of the People, as he sought to put the Macron China visit on a cooperative footing.
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Xi echoed the sentiment, calling for “more stable” ties and saying China was willing to work with France “to exclude any interference” and “make the comprehensive strategic partnership between China and France more stable.” The meeting featured a formal welcome — honor guards, national anthems and Macron blowing kisses to children who offered flowers — and was staged beneath the fluttering flags at Tian’anmen Square.
Top of Macron’s agenda was the role China could play in securing a ceasefire in Ukraine. “We must continue to work towards peace and stability in the world, and in Ukraine and other regions affected by war,” Macron told Xi, adding: “Our capacity to work together is decisive.”
France and other Western governments say China has not condemned Russia’s 2022 invasion and accuse Beijing of providing economic support that helps sustain Moscow’s war effort, including the transfer of components used by Russia’s defence industry. Macron has repeatedly urged Xi to use Beijing’s influence to press for a negotiated end to the fighting as winter deepens the humanitarian toll.
Macron’s visit follows a recent trip to Paris by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who reiterated after talks with Macron that “the war must be brought to a fair end.” The outreach comes as U.S. President Donald Trump advances his own proposals for ending the war, highlighting the geopolitical tug-of-war over influence in Europe and Asia.
Trade and economic governance were also front and center. Macron urged a rebalancing of trade ties as the European Union faces a $357 billion trade deficit with China. An adviser to Macron said it was “necessary for China to consume more and export less and for Europeans to save less and produce more.”
Macron has pushed for a “European preference” in technology and warned the bloc should not become a “vassal” to U.S. and Chinese tech giants. He also called on Xi to work with G7 countries to strengthen rules-based economic governance.
During the visit Macron is due to meet Premier Li Qiang and travel to Chengdu, where two giant pandas loaned to France were recently returned to China; the embassy has promised replacements. The presidency described the Chengdu stop as “quite exceptional in Chinese protocol.”
On his fourth trip to China since becoming president in 2017, Macron is attempting to recalibrate bilateral ties — seeking cooperation on global security while pressing for fairer trade and clearer rules governing economic and technological competition.
By Abdiwahab Ahmed
Axadle Times international–Monitoring.
