Macron arrives in China for talks with Xi on trade ties and Russia’s war in Ukraine

BEIJING AP Emmanuel Macron arrived in China on Wednesday for a three-day state visit focusing on deal and diplomatic talks as the French president seeks to enlist Beijing in pressuring Russia toward a ceasefire with Ukraine Macron will advocate for an agenda of cooperation in economic and business matters aimed at achieving a balance that ensures sustainable solid advancement that benefits everyone his office disclosed France is aiming to attract more stake from Chinese companies and facilitate area access for French exports During the visit authorities from both nations are expected to sign several agreements in the resource food industry and aviation sectors Macron is committed to defend fair and reciprocal industry access his office stated He and his wife Brigitte wore open overcoats against the winter chill as they stepped off a plane after nightfall at an airport in Beijing and walked down a red-carpeted jetway They were greeted by Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi who spoke with Macron before the French leader and his wife departed in a limousine They are expected to visit the th-century Qianlong Garden complex in the Forbidden City the former palace of China s emperors on Wednesday evening The garden which dates from the Qing dynasty not long ago reopened to the constituents after a major renovation France will host the Group of Seven summit in involving the world s majority of advanced economies while China will chair the -member Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation APEC forum which includes the United States South Korea Japan Australia and Russia The -nation bloc runs a massive agreement deficit with China over billion euros billion last year China alone represents of France s total pact deficit France and the European Union have described China as a partner competitor and systemic rival Newest years have been marked by multiple transaction disputes across a range of industries after the EU undertook a probe into Chinese electric vehicles subsidies China responded with investigations into imports of European brandy pork and dairy products In July Macron welcomed exemptions for bulk cognac producers as a positive step France is China s first supplier of wine and spirits Macron s talks with President Xi Jinping will also address Russia s war in Ukraine particularly following a meeting Monday in Paris with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to discuss probable terms for a ceasefire What we want is that China can convince and influence Russia to move toward a ceasefire as fleetly as practicable and consolidate that ceasefire through negotiations which in our view should lead to solid measure guarantees for Ukraine a French top diplomatic official announced Paris expects Beijing to refrain from providing Russia with any means whatsoever to continue the war the official revealed speaking anonymously in line with the French presidency s customary practices China s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning revealed last week that Beijing believes in dialogue and negotiation to resolve the Ukraine war and supports all efforts leading to peace Since the beginning of the Ukraine conflict China has played a constructive role in promoting a political resolution of the dilemma she disclosed On Thursday Macron will meet with Xi at the Great Hall of the People Both leaders will then participate in a Franco-Chinese business forum In the afternoon Macron s agenda includes talks with Zhao Leji chairman of the National People s Congress and Chinese Premier Li Qiang The French presidential couple will then advance to Chengdu in China s Sichuan province On Friday Macron and Xi will have talks in Dujiangyan on the site of one of the world s oldest irrigation system Macron will later meet with students from the Sichuan University Chengdu is also home to the Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda where Yuan Meng the first giant panda born in France that was named by first lady Brigitte Macron is now staying France last month sent back to China a couple of star giant pandas who lived in the country for years and gave birth to three cubs Corbet communicated from Paris Source