During a summit in Paris, French President Emmanuel Macron and EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen urged Xi Jinping to leverage Beijing's influence to end the Russian aggression in Ukraine. They also emphasized the importance of adhering to fair global trade regulations. Xi's visit to France, his first in Europe since 2019, marks a crucial moment, although analysts don't anticipate major breakthroughs on either the Ukraine conflict or trade issues.
Macron stressed the necessity of coordinating with Beijing on significant crises like Ukraine, emphasizing the need for equitable rules in European-China trade relations. Xi expressed willingness for continued partnership and strategic coordination between China and the EU, aiming to contribute to global peace and development.
Concerns linger in Europe regarding China's stance on the Ukraine conflict, with suspicions that China tacitly supports Russia. Von der Leyen highlighted the importance of restraining the flow of dual-use goods to Russia, urging China to use its influence to end the aggression. Macron appreciated China's commitment to refrain from supplying arms to Russia but remained cautious about dual-use technology transfers.
Trade discussions were central to the talks, with Macron and von der Leyen emphasizing Europe's determination to safeguard its strategic interests. Von der Leyen voiced concerns about trade imbalances and highlighted issues such as Chinese subsidies impacting the European market.
Human rights groups urged Macron to address China's human rights record, particularly concerning the Uyghur minority and imprisoned journalists. Despite the elaborate welcome and private talks scheduled, analysts remain skeptical about Macron's ability to sway Xi, especially considering Xi's visits to Serbia and Hungary, seen as more aligned with Moscow.
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