During a trilateral meeting in Paris, French President Emmanuel Macron and European Commission (EC) President Ursula von der Leyen urged Chinese President Xi Jinping to collaborate closely with Europe on the Ukraine conflict and abide by fair trade rules. Mr. Macron stressed the decisive nature of major crises such as the situation in Ukraine and affirmed cooperation with Beijing in finding solutions.
President Xi Jinping highlighted the important roles that China and Europe play in a world characterized by chaos and change. He emphasized the need for continuous contributions to global peace and development. While China remained neutral on the Ukraine issue, concerns arose in the West about potential Chinese support to Russia. Despite US accusations, China defended its right to maintain normal trade relations with all countries.
Ms. von der Leyen expressed trust that China would use its influence over Russia to help end the conflict in Ukraine, emphasizing shared interests in peace and security. Discussions during the trilateral meeting also focused on trade relations, with challenges identified in economic imbalances and issues like subsidies to specific industries.
Mr. Macron called for fair rules in trade relations between the EU and China, highlighting the importance of balanced development in their partnership. Mr. Xi emphasized the resolution of trade differences through dialogue and consideration of each other’s legitimate concerns.
After his visit to Paris, President Xi Jinping planned to visit Serbia and Hungary, countries friendly to Russia in the region. The trilateral meeting addressed critical global issues and highlighted the need for cooperation between China and Europe in addressing challenges like the Ukraine conflict and trade relations.
China’s neutral stance on the Ukrainian crisis has been met with mixed reactions from Western leaders who fear Beijing may be secretly supporting Russia’s aggression towards its neighboring country.
During their talks, Mr. Macron reaffirmed France’s commitment to maintaining close ties with both EC leaders Ursula von der Leyen and China’s President Xi Jinping.
In addition, discussions also touched upon how both Europeans can work together with Beijing to promote free trade agreements while addressing economic imbalances within their respective regions.
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