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| Macron urges Xi to bring Russia ‘back to reason’ over Ukraine | Macron urges Xi to bring Russia ‘back to reason’ over Ukraine |
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| French president makes plea as two leaders hold first of series of high-level meetings in Beijing | French president makes plea as two leaders hold first of series of high-level meetings in Beijing |
| The French president, Emmanuel Macron, has urged China’s Xi Jinping to bring Russia “back to reason” over the war in Ukraine, as the two held the first of a series of high-level meetings in Beijing. | The French president, Emmanuel Macron, has urged China’s Xi Jinping to bring Russia “back to reason” over the war in Ukraine, as the two held the first of a series of high-level meetings in Beijing. |
| “The Russian aggression in Ukraine has dealt a blow to [international] stability,” Macron told Xi, standing alongside the Chinese leader outside the Great Hall of the People before their meeting. “I know I can count on you to bring back Russia to reason and everyone back to the negotiating table.” | “The Russian aggression in Ukraine has dealt a blow to [international] stability,” Macron told Xi, standing alongside the Chinese leader outside the Great Hall of the People before their meeting. “I know I can count on you to bring back Russia to reason and everyone back to the negotiating table.” |
| Xi said he wanted to avoid an escalation, adding that Europe was an “independent pole in a multipolar world” and that China supported Europe’s “strategic autonomy”. | Xi said he wanted to avoid an escalation, adding that Europe was an “independent pole in a multipolar world” and that China supported Europe’s “strategic autonomy”. |
| The comments came after a meeting on Thursday between Xi and Macron, in a visit aimed at boosting both leaders’ credentials as statesmen who could talk across a political divide. Xi said the countries were working on a trade agreement called “from French farm to Chinese table”. | The comments came after a meeting on Thursday between Xi and Macron, in a visit aimed at boosting both leaders’ credentials as statesmen who could talk across a political divide. Xi said the countries were working on a trade agreement called “from French farm to Chinese table”. |
| Macron said that Paris and Beijing had a “strategic partnership” that would help to deliver global stability. | |
| China has been keen to carve out ties with Europe that are independent of Beijing’s souring relationship with the US. The visit to Beijing by Macron and Ursula von der Leyen, the president of the European Commission, comes against a backdrop of the Ukraine war and a global economic crunch. | China has been keen to carve out ties with Europe that are independent of Beijing’s souring relationship with the US. The visit to Beijing by Macron and Ursula von der Leyen, the president of the European Commission, comes against a backdrop of the Ukraine war and a global economic crunch. |
| Macron was under pressure from the US to use the visit to dissuade China from forging closer ties with Russia. After the meeting between Macron and Xi, the French president said his Chinese counterpart had “important words” on Ukraine. He said both France and China agreed nuclear weapons should be excluded from the conflict. | Macron was under pressure from the US to use the visit to dissuade China from forging closer ties with Russia. After the meeting between Macron and Xi, the French president said his Chinese counterpart had “important words” on Ukraine. He said both France and China agreed nuclear weapons should be excluded from the conflict. |
| The Kremlin said on Thursday that there were “no prospects” for a political settlement in Ukraine, mediated by China or by anyone else. | |
| Earlier, Macron met the Chinese premier, Li Qiang. An Élysée official confirmed they had spoken about the conflict in Ukraine as well French businesses’ access to the Chinese market – particularly in the aeronautical sector, food industry and finance. | Earlier, Macron met the Chinese premier, Li Qiang. An Élysée official confirmed they had spoken about the conflict in Ukraine as well French businesses’ access to the Chinese market – particularly in the aeronautical sector, food industry and finance. |
| Macron also raised the issue of the Summit for a New Global Financial Pact, which France is hosting in June – saying China should play a key role on the challenges of financing the fight against poverty and climate crisis. | Macron also raised the issue of the Summit for a New Global Financial Pact, which France is hosting in June – saying China should play a key role on the challenges of financing the fight against poverty and climate crisis. |
| A report on EU-China relations published by Fudan University in February noted that Europe’s stance on China was marked by “hostility in ideology, vigilance in security, and competition in economics”. | A report on EU-China relations published by Fudan University in February noted that Europe’s stance on China was marked by “hostility in ideology, vigilance in security, and competition in economics”. |
| But as China emerges from three years of self-imposed isolation as a result of Xi’s zero-Covid policy, it is keen to boost trade ties with Europe. Macron seems receptive to that message: he travelled to China accompanied by about 50 business executives, including the chief executives of Airbus and EDF. | But as China emerges from three years of self-imposed isolation as a result of Xi’s zero-Covid policy, it is keen to boost trade ties with Europe. Macron seems receptive to that message: he travelled to China accompanied by about 50 business executives, including the chief executives of Airbus and EDF. |
| This has led to some criticism that Macron is prioritising business over security. He rejected this, telling Reuters on Wednesday: “Strategic autonomy doesn’t mean autarky.” | This has led to some criticism that Macron is prioritising business over security. He rejected this, telling Reuters on Wednesday: “Strategic autonomy doesn’t mean autarky.” |