President of France, Emmanuel Macron He came to Beijing to persuade China to contribute to peace in Ukraine and sign several trade agreements. It will be three busy days to do. geopolitics and pragmatism without crushing the conversation. Subject to European discipline, Macron refrained from the loudest statements against China and offered an “alternative path” to the conflict advocated by some voices in Washington and Brussels.
After meeting with the French community in Beijing, he said China could play a “big role” in the “path of peace”. “China has affirmed its commitment to the UN Charter. The territorial integrity and sovereignty of nations are part of it. walk together and try to find a way to peace,” he continued. He also downplayed segregation: “We must not separate ourselves apart from China (…) We pledge to maintain our trade relationship with China.”
Macron will meet with his Chinese counterpart tomorrow Xi Jinping, and with the prime minister Li Chiang, before the official banquet. The next day, he will travel to the southern province of Guangzhou to meet with the French students and have dinner with Xi again. Macron’s three-day visit, and the six hours he will share with Xi, contrasts with Spain’s president Pedro Sánchez’s recent trip, aired in one day, with a one-and-a-half hour contact with his host.
trade agreements
Macron is accompanied by some sixty businessmen, including those from Airbus, Alstom and nuclear giant EDF, who are negotiating a major aircraft order. To Macron, who was punished by the protests of pensioners in his country, improve business relations With Beijing nearly three years after China’s diplomatic hiatus due to the difficulties of the zero covid policy. However, the media will focus on the Ukraine issue, where no significant progress is expected. Paris will try to make Beijing Moscow press to end the occupation or, if it fails, to persuade it not to join the Russian front. China has adamantly dismissed this possibility, describing the circular US announcements of imminent military aid as defamation.
Macron’s visit, Chinese diplomacy align with Europe. In a few months, the presidents of Germany, France and Spain and the top leaders of European institutions will have passed through Beijing. China is interested in driving Brussels away from Washington and gaining supporters for its peace plan. The latter looks complicated. Last week, Sánchez reiterated his support for the plan proposed by Ukraine, as it complies with the United Nations Charter and ensures a “just and lasting” peace. He repeated this so many times that it was impossible not to see the direct rejection of the Chinese plan. Ursula Von der Leyen, president of the European Commission, had rejected this days ago, saying it was “not possible”.
Von der LeyenA drill against Beijing, Macron was invited by Macron to accompany him on his trip to project an image of unity and avoid the criticism he had faced months ago. Olaf Schölz, German Chancellor for flying in his spare time. German policy demands that Europe protect itself against Chinese tech companies in sensitive sectors and promote self-sufficiency in other Beijing-dominated sectors, such as rare metals. Expectations are high on whether he will continue or soften his daily barrage against China in his meeting with Xi on Thursday.