Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson: No new date or venue has been set for the meeting between Araghchi and Witkoff, and no negotiations will take place until the outcome is guaranteed
Palestinian platforms: Settlers storm Al-Aqsa Mosque complex under the protection of the occupation police
Palestinian platforms: The IOF detonated a booby-trapped robot east of the al-Zaytoun neighborhood, south of Gaza City
Syrian Defense: We call on all parties in Sweida to cooperate with security forces and exercise restraint
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: The Lebanese Army is continuing its investigations and will later announce any information that does not affect the confidentiality of the investigation
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: It has not yet been determined whether the detainees belong to ISIS or another organization
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: Around 10 people of different nationalities, including Lebanese nationals, were detained
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: The Lebanese army arrested a number of people in the Matn area of Mount Lebanon with possession it has not disclosed
Gaza Civil Defense spokesman: We have strong indications that there are martyrs, injuries, and trapped people in the Salah al-Din area
Gaza Civil Defense spokesman: Citizens should avoid Salah al-Din Street because anyone who approaches it is at risk of being directly targeted

Macron arrives in China for talks with Xi on Ukraine

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Agencies
  • 5 Apr 2023 13:32
5 Min Read

The French President sees China as a potential "gamechanger" and says Europe must not separate from China economically.

  • x
  • Emmanuel Macron arrives in Beijing on Wednesday for the start of his state visit to China. (Reuters)
    Emmanuel Macron arrives in Beijing on Wednesday for the start of his state visit to China. (Reuters)

French President Emmanuel Macron arrives in China on Wednesday where he intends to discuss with Chinese President Xi Jinping the situation in Ukraine and bilateral trade ties between the EU and Beijing.

In his first speech since arriving for a three-day state visit, Macron said China could play a major role in finding a "path to peace" in Ukraine.

"China, with its close relationship with Russia, which has been reaffirmed in recent days, can play a major role," he indicated.

The French leader also said France would engage "in this shared responsibility for peace and stability."

At the French embassy in Beijing, Macron said that Europe must not separate from China economically.

"We must not disassociate ourselves, separate ourselves from China," he said during a gathering of Beijing's French community, saying France would "commit proactively to continue to have a commercial relationship with China."

Earlier, an official from Macron's office who wished to remain anonymous said that the French leader hopes to talk Beijing into playing an active role to end the war in Ukraine.

Macron also intends to talk Xi out of assisting Russia in the conflict, as per the official.

"China is the only country in the world capable of having an immediate and radical impact on the conflict, in one direction or the other," the official said.

The French President will discuss the matter with the Chinese leader but will resort to "another path" than the confrontational position that the US holds concerning Beijing.

Read more: Xi: EU must strengthen strategic independence for better China ties

A delegation of 60 businessmen accompanies Macron on his official trip, including the chiefs of Airbus and EDF.

Maintaining trade ties between the EU and China is also on Macron's agenda, in addition to preserving France's interests in the Asia-Pacific region.

The head of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen is also joining the French President on his China visit.

'Decoupling China unviable'

Related News

China retaliates, bans EU medical devices in trade dispute

Taiwan condemns China’s new air route over strait, warns of escalation

Last week, Von der Leyen warned China that its approach to the Ukraine war would determine ties but said Europe was not looking to break away from Beijing.

"We have to be frank on this point. How China continues to interact with Putin's war will be a determining factor for EU-China relations going forward," she said.

However, the EU commission chief said it "is neither viable -- nor in Europe's interest -- to decouple from China," adding, "We do not want to cut economic, societal, political and scientific ties," but it is important to "rebalance" the trade between the two parties "on the basis of transparency, predictability and reciprocity."

Read more: China has sent delegation to EU for talks on security, trust building

'Little brother'

"The way China positions itself on the war in Ukraine is a disappointment for Europe," a European diplomat in Beijing told AFP. 

However, the diplomat considered it unlikely that Beijing would change its position as it sees the EU as "the United States' little brother."

But resuming meetings between the two parties is a positive development, she added.

Joerg Wuttke, the head of the EU Chamber of Commerce in China, considered that the Chinese-European trade balance is in a bad state.

"Our sales are miserable," Wuttke told AFP.

"Last year, we only shipped 1.6 million containers to China, exports went down dramatically -- and China has been incredibly successful, shipping 6.4 million containers into Europe."

Read more: EU to face several challenges through de-risking strategy with China

The European diplomat believed that Beijing will bring up Europe's Comprehensive Agreement on Investment with China, which was long stalled by the EU and was later halted due to human rights allegations against the Asian giant, in addition to sanctions.

"Chinese companies have a strong interest to invest in Europe, that's why China is pushing again for the ratification of the investment agreement," Wuttke added. 

But the "geopolitical conditions have changed so much since the conclusion of the negotiations in 2020, so there is no chance of progress on that point," he said.

Regional player

The Asia-Pacific has turned into "the nerve center of the planet," and this is due to its huge population and vast resources, considered Cedric Perrin, a French senate who took part in writing a report on the region.

According to Perrin, France must "re-state a strong and realistic position towards China, especially regarding the need to respect international law" if it wants to be considered a serious regional player.

Read more: Modern Diplomacy: China's influence grows across Asia, Africa & Europe

  • Beijing
  • Emmanuel Macron
  • France
  • China
  • Ukraine
  • Xi Jinping

Most Read

Hezbollah SG reveals war details on Al Mayadeen for the first time

Hezbollah SG reveals war details on Al Mayadeen for the first time

  • Politics
  • 8 Jul 2025
Major ambush in Gaza kills 6 Israeli troops, injures dozens

Major ambush in Gaza kills 5 Israeli troops, injures 14

  • Politics
  • 8 Jul 2025
Israeli soldiers are seen in Beit Hanoun ahead of an operation by the al-Qassam Brigades, undated (Al-Qassam Brigades Military Media)

'Israel' on blast as media exposes report discrepancies in Gaza ambush

  • Palestine
  • 8 Jul 2025
Yemen Navy sinks ETERNITY C ship, shares footage of operation

Yemen Navy sinks ETERNITY C ship, shares footage of operation

  • Politics
  • 9 Jul 2025

Coverage

All
The Ummah's Martyrs

Read Next

All
The Freedom Flotilla ship Handala as it departs for Gaza, where it aims to break the maritime blockade at a port in Syracuse, Sicily in southern Italy on July 13, 2025. (AFP)
Palestine

Freedom Flotilla's Handala departs Sicily in bid to break Gaza siege

The container ship CMA CGM Laperouse, left, docks at the Georgia Ports Authority's Port of Savannah, Sept. 29, 2021, in Savannah, Ga (AP)
Politics

US shipbuilding woes deepen as tariffs, outdated policies backfire

Gaza war raises ethical questions for ex-Obama, Biden officials
Politics

Mercenary firm tied to Gaza war crimes hires Obama-Biden PR operatives

'Israel' targets children in Gaza collecting water
Palestine

'Israel' strikes Gaza kids fetching water, blames it on 'malfunction'

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS