Chinese President Xi Jinping met with French President Emmanuel Macron in Beijing on Thursday, emphasizing the need to build a more stable relationship between China and France. Xi reaffirmed Beijing’s commitment to strengthening the comprehensive strategic partnership and expressed readiness to work with France “to exclude any interference” and reinforce bilateral stability.

Macron, for his part, acknowledged that while differences exist, it is the responsibility of both nations to overcome them for the greater good. “Sometimes there are differences, but it is our responsibility to overcome them for the greater good,” he told Xi during their meeting at the Great Hall of the People.

The French president, accompanied by First Lady Brigitte Macron, was welcomed with full honors by Xi and Chinese First Lady Peng Liyuan. The ceremony, relocated indoors due to cold weather, featured national anthems and children presenting flowers.

Macron urges ceasefire in Ukraine during Beijing talks

A key focus of Macron’s three-day visit to China was the war in Ukraine and the role Beijing could play in facilitating peace. "We must continue to work towards peace and stability in the world, and in Ukraine and other regions affected by war," Macron said during the talks, emphasizing that both France and China have a "decisive" ability to collaborate. 

Macron has consistently urged Xi to use his influence to help secure a ceasefire, with the war in Ukraine now stretching into its fourth winter. Western governments have accused Beijing of indirectly backing Russia's war because it refused to condemn the military operation in Ukraine in 2022. However these same governments have consistently supplied Ukraine with more advanced weaponry that has allowed it to strike deep within Russia. 

It is worth noting that Macron’s visit comes shortly after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky visited Paris, calling on European leaders to remain committed to Kiev. "We share the view that the war must be brought to a fair end," Zelensky wrote following his meeting with Macron and calls with other European heads of state.

Trade Imbalance and Economic Sovereignty on Macron’s Agenda

Macron also used the visit to address the growing France-China trade imbalance and to push for a rules-based international economic system. The European Union faces a trade deficit of $357 billion with China. "It is necessary for China to consume more and export less… and for Europeans to save less and produce more," an advisor to the French president said.

He has previously emphasized reducing Europe's dependency on China, especially in the tech sector, and has advocated for a "European preference" in key industries. At a recent summit, he warned against the EU becoming a "vassal" to either US or Chinese tech giants.

These trade concerns are expected to be central to Macron’s discussions with Chinese Premier Li Qiang during the remainder of his trip. Following his meetings in Beijing, Macron will travel to Chengdu, in the southwestern province of Sichuan, where he will mark the return of two giant pandas previously on loan to France.

The Chengdu leg of the visit, described by the French presidency as "quite exceptional in Chinese protocol," highlights the diplomatic symbolism that's attached to panda diplomacy. The Chinese embassy has confirmed that new pandas will soon be sent to France to replace the popular pair.

Macron’s trip will conclude on Friday. His previous visit to China, in 2023, included a widely publicized appearance at a university in Guangzhou, where he received an enthusiastic reception from students.