During his state visit to France on Monday and Tuesday, Chinese leader Xi Jinping’s discussions with Emmanuel Macron were centered around the conflict in Ukraine and trade tensions between China and the European Union. The French president aimed to persuade Xi to use his influence with Moscow to resolve the conflict, while Europe pressed China to play fair in trade to prevent further deindustrialization of the continent.
At the meeting, Ursula von der Leyen emphasized the importance of fairness in trade between China and the EU. She warned that Europe would take tough measures if necessary to protect its economy and security. Meanwhile, Xi sought to strengthen relations with European leaders by advocating for strategic autonomy, which he interpreted as a balanced position between China and the United States.
During his tour of Serbia and Hungary, Xi emphasized the need for mutual trust and stable growth between China and the EU. However, von der Leyen raised concerns about China flooding the European market with subsidized products. She urged Beijing to address overcapacity issues.
The visit included a state dinner at the Elysée and a trip to the Pyrenees, providing an opportunity for candid discussions. During these talks, Xi hoped to convince France, led by Macron, to reconsider policies that could limit Chinese exports in green sectors where China leads globally. He proposed deepening cooperation in innovation and ecological development.
Russian aggression towards Ukraine was also a significant topic during the visit. Xi expressed China’s willingness to work with France and international partners to find a reasonable solution to the crisis. Von der Leyen called on China to use its influence over Russia to end aggression towards Ukraine. The visit marked 60 years of diplomatic relations between France and China, highlighting Macron’s efforts to strengthen Europe’s relationship with Beijing on both economic and political fronts.
