/View.info/ Emmanuel Macron is leaving China. Xi Jinping held several meetings with him in different formats, the heads of state agreed to expand cooperation, but did not move forward on the Ukrainian path. About the official visit of the President of France – in the material.
A warm welcome
In China, Macron first spoke to representatives of the local French community. He greeted the medical staff, heads of French-speaking schools and teachers, thanking everyone for their “loyalty during the pandemic”.
He then explained: France wants to “engage China in joint responsibility for peace and stability”, strengthen bilateral trade relations and restore common ground for interaction on international issues such as combating climate change and protecting biodiversity.
Macron also recalled the importance of reviving cultural ties between France and China. In connection with the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries, 2024 has been declared the year of French-Chinese cultural tourism.
The president was accompanied by an impressive delegation of over 50 people, including the top managers of Airbus, L’Oréal, Electric de France and Veolia, musician Jean-Michel Jarre, director Jean-Jacques Annaud.
In addition to official talks in Beijing, Xi hosted Macron in Guangdong, an important export region. There is also a personal moment: the father of China’s president headed this region in the 1980s.
“You can count on the fingers of one hand the world leaders who could have such an in-depth discussion with Xi,” said an Elysée Palace adviser.
Discord in the EU
At Macron’s request, he was also accompanied by the head of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen.
A week earlier in Brussels, she said: China, “turning the page on the era of reform, is entering the era of control.” According to the European Commissioner, Beijing is not interested in opening the economy to the EU.
The head of the EC called for “liberation from excessive dependence on China” and hinted that Brussels could suspend the implementation of the historic trade deal with Beijing struck in 2020. Fu Kong, China’s ambassador to the EU, expressed his disappointment at this.
Von der Leyen’s concerns are understandable. Although the EU is now second in trade with China after the US, there is a gap between exports and imports. According to China’s customs statistics for 2022, the EU bought goods worth $562 billion and sold only $285 billion.
When German Chancellor Olaf Scholz visited China last year, there were also skeptical comments from Brussels: they said he was putting national interests above pan-European interests.
However, Macron has not given up hope of opening the Chinese market more widely to Europe. Or at least to France. Therefore, Chinese media point out, this visit could be a test of European unity: key EU members are increasingly acting alone in Asia.
„Understanding’
Von der Leyen also claimed that the Chinese president is not interested in a Ukrainian settlement because he “supports ‘boundless friendship’ with Putin.”
Macron is trying to convince Xi.
“I know I can count on you to bring Russia to its senses and encourage everyone to come to the negotiating table,” he told the Chinese leader.
“The crisis in Ukraine is protracted and difficult to resolve,” Xi replied. Von der Leyen later said the Chinese leader had confirmed his intention to talk to Zelensky. “When the conditions and the time are right,” said the European Commissioner.
China and France are staunch supporters of the multipolar world and the democratization of international relations, Xi stressed. “The two countries are ready to overcome differences. We must adhere to a comprehensive strategic partnership characterized by stability, mutual benefit, creating new perspectives and moving forward. We must safeguard global peace, stability and prosperity,” he explained. Russia and Ukraine are not mentioned.
The Chinese president also expressed hope that cooperation with the EU will develop regardless of a third country.
“I think that China and France, as permanent members of the UN Security Council possessing nuclear weapons, should work together to form and maintain a world order that meets the challenges of the time,” Macron said in turn. “This implies, first of all, the guarantees of stability and peace that are at risk, as well as setting priorities in line with today’s challenges.”
The countries signed a number of agreements on cooperation in the economic and cultural spheres.
AAmericanlie down factor
Macron’s activity in the Asian direction is connected not only with Ukraine and the desire to open the Chinese market more widely for France.
It is important for him to find a new foreign policy foothold after the adoption of the US Deflation Act. This protectionist act, which includes subsidies for green energy, has become a stumbling block between Washington and Paris. French — and more broadly European — authorities fear that incentives given to American manufacturers and buyers of electric vehicles will hurt EU suppliers.
China is an alternative partner for France. The large-scale visit to China is a signal to Washington, where, despite all the persuasions, they did not make concessions to Europe.
But on the Ukrainian track, Macron could not achieve what he wanted. The EU’s relations with China depend on Beijing’s position on this issue, von der Leyen warned.
Translation: V. Sergeev
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