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In extensive talks with head of state and party leader Xi Jinping on Thursday and Friday, Macron wants to explore options to advance new initiatives, according to reports from the Élysée Palace. Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, who is also holding talks in Beijing, will join a group of three on Thursday.
Prior to the three-day state visit, Macron coordinated with US President Joe Biden on Tuesday. Both presidents reaffirmed their continued support for Ukraine despite continued Russian aggression,” the White House said. The call was a sign of unity. There had been speculation beforehand whether Macron could take a more independent course in dealings with the People’s Republic. China is trying to court the Europeans to isolate rival US.
“Both heads of state discussed their common desire to involve China in order to hasten the end of the war in Ukraine and participate in building a lasting peace in the region,” the French embassy said. “Given the proximity of China and Russia, it is clear that China is one of the few countries in the world, if not the only one, that can have a groundbreaking effect on this conflict,” said a statement from the Elysee Palace. said.
But since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine over a year ago, China has supported President Vladimir Putin. The US and NATO were portrayed as the main culprits in the conflict. While Xi Jinping met with Putin in Moscow two weeks ago and the Chinese head of government was still on the phone with his Russian counterpart Mikhail Mishustin on Tuesday, they have not once spoken to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy since the start of the war.
It is not only support for Russia that is increasingly straining relations between Europeans and China. There are disagreements over trade imbalances, human rights violations in China, territorial claims in the East and South China Seas, China’s threats to democratic Taiwan and its more aggressive stance. Against the background of bad experiences with dependence on Russia, concerns about the dangers of economic cooperation with the second largest economy are growing.
On the sidelines of a NATO meeting in Brussels, German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock (Greens) campaigned for risk minimization in dealings with China. This means not disconnecting. Unilateral dependencies should be reduced. EU Commission President von der Leyen also called for restoring relations in a critical keynote address on the relationship with China on Thursday. She also stressed that the EU must become more independent and reduce economic risks. However, it is not in Europe’s interest to turn away from China.
Despite these concerns, expanding economic cooperation is another key theme of Macron’s visit to China. He is accompanied by a 60-strong French business delegation – including representatives from European aircraft manufacturer Airbus, the world’s second largest electricity producer Électricité de France EDF, train builder Alstom and waste management and water supplier Veolia.
(SDA)
Source: Blick
I am Amelia James, a passionate journalist with a deep-rooted interest in current affairs. I have more than five years of experience in the media industry, working both as an author and editor for 24 Instant News. My main focus lies in international news, particularly regional conflicts and political issues around the world.
