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Dewey Sim

French President Emmanuel Macron has started a three-day visit to China, where he is expected to confront thorny issues including Europe’s trade with Beijing and the Ukraine war.
On Wednesday evening, Macron landed in Beijing at the start of his fourth visit to China, which will also include a trip to the southwestern city of Chengdu.
He was given a red-carpet welcome by Foreign Minister Wang Yi, with whom he had a brief exchange of words.
The French leader is due to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping during his trip, which runs until Friday. He will also meet Premier Li Qiang and Zhao Leji, the head of the national legislature.
Macron was accompanied by a delegation of more than 80 people, including nearly 40 chief executives from sectors ranging from energy to aviation.
The visit comes at a time of rising trade tensions between the European Union and China.
The EU’s major concerns include Beijing’s control over supplies of critical minerals and allegations that Chinese manufacturing overcapacity is undercutting European companies.
France has sought to champion more protectionist trade policies at the European level, pushing for tariffs on Chinese imports such as electric vehicles and steel.
The EU and French government have also expressed concerns about Beijing’s stance on the war in Ukraine, arguing that Beijing’s close ties with Moscow have undermined Western efforts to isolate Russia.
China has also been accused of supplying Russia dual-use goods – something it has consistently denied, saying it is supplying civilian products as part of its regular trade relationship with Moscow.
Europe has also been trying to formulate a response to the Ukraine peace plan proposed by US President Donald Trump.
On Monday Lin Jian, a spokesman for the Chinese foreign ministry, said Beijing hoped the visit would help to “strengthen strategic communication, deepen practical cooperation, enhance multilateral coordination … and make greater contributions to promoting the healthy and stable development of China-Europe relations”.
Ahead of Macron’s trip, the Elysee Palace said “major issues relating to the strategic partnership between France and China will be addressed, as well as several major international matters and areas of cooperation aimed at tackling the global challenges of our time”.
Last week, an Elysee source said Paris hoped Beijing “could convince Russia to put an end to the war and to engage in negotiations that respect Ukraine’s fundamental rights and allow us to achieve peace and security on the European continent”.


At a separate briefing last week, an Elysee source said Macron would tell Xi he had “a very clear desire to establish a framework for Sino-European relations that serves mutual interests”.
The source added that Macron wanted Europe “to be respected as a major partner of China”.
In a break with recent tradition, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen will not be joining Macron on the trip.
Instead the visit has been framed by France as a “strictly bilateral one” even though Macron was planning “an important conversation with Xi about the future of EU-China relations”.
Macron last visited China in 2023, with Xi visiting France the following year.
France will host the Group of Seven summit next year, and Macron is reportedly planning to invite Xi.
Meanwhile, China is hosting next year’s Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum in Shenzhen in November.


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China-France relations

Emmanuel Macron begins China visit with EU trade ties and Ukraine war high on the agenda

China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi welcomes France’s President Emmanuel Macron and his wife Brigitte to Beijing. Photo: Reuters

EU’s von der Leyen won’t go to China with French President Macron for talks with Xi

French President Emmanuel Macron (left) will be heading to China without European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. Photo: AFP

Chinese President Xi Jinping, French President Emmanuel Macron and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen arrive for a meeting at the Elysee Palace in May 2024. Photo: Christophe Licoppe/European Commission via dpa

French President Emmanuel Macron and Chinese President Xi Jinping enjoy a drink in a restaurant in the Pyrenees in May 2024. Photo: AP

France’s Emmanuel Macron to meet Xi Jinping during China trip next week

French President Emmanuel Macron will meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping on a state visit to China next week, travelling first to Beijing and then to Chengdu. Photo: AFP

Macron wants ties based on Europe being ‘a major partner of China’, source says

Chinese President Xi Jinping will meet his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron in China next week. Photo: EPA-EFE

French President Emmanuel Macron doesn’t want Europe to be seen as “a variable in tensions”, according to an Elysee Palace source. Photo: EPA

News

China

Diplomacy

The French president lands in Beijing on the first leg of a tour where he is expected to meet his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping


The French president lands in Beijing on the first leg of a tour where he is expected to meet his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping.


Emmanuel Macron begins China visit with EU trade ties and Ukraine war high on the agenda

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}The French president lands in Beijing on the first leg of a tour where he is expected to meet his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping

The French president lands in Beijing on the first leg of a tour where he is expected to meet his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping