As he arrives in Paris, Xi emphasizes the value of China-France ties in bringing stability to a volatile globe and indicates his willingness to expand communication.
Emmanuel Macron is hosting Chinese President Xi Jinping on a state visit to France, during which the French president will try to press his counterpart on matters ranging from trade to Ukraine.
Xi’s first trip to Europe since 2019 began with his arrival for the visit commemorating 60 years of diplomatic relations between France and China. During this tour, he will also be visiting Serbia and Hungary.
However, Xi’s selection of France as the only significant European nation to visit reflects the comparatively cordial Sino-French ties that have existed since Macron’s state visit to China in April 2023 and recognizes the French president’s influence as a mediator in the European Union.
Prime Minister Gabriel Attal greeted the head of the one-party Communist state of over 1.4 billion people, together with his spouse Peng Liyuan, under umbrellas at a soggy Orly airport in Paris.
On Monday, Xi will meet with the head of the EU Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, in Paris for a full day of negotiations. Following the talks, Macron will throw a state banquet at the Elysee.
Macron will take Xi to the Pyrenees mountains on Tuesday, a place he used to visit as a youngster, for a day of private talks that will be less public.
As reported by the Xinhua State news agency upon his arrival in Paris, Xi declared that China was prepared to “enhance political mutual trust, build strategic consensus and deepen exchanges” during the visit, adding that the evolution of China-France relations had “injected stability and positive energy into the turbulent world”.
“International order stability”
Macron’s top objective will be to alert Xi to the risks of supporting Russia in its aggression against Ukraine, since Western diplomats are worried that Moscow is already utilizing Chinese machinery to produce weapons.
The Russian “special military offensive” has improved Beijing’s relations with the Kremlin, and the West wants China above all to avoid arming Moscow and potentially shifting the conflict’s balance of power.
“We should seek China’s opinion on maintaining the integrity of the global system,” Macron stated in a Thursday-published interview with The Economist.
“We must, therefore, work with China to build peace,” he stated.
In the same Economist interview, Macron charged Beijing with flouting international trade regulations and stated that Europe needed to protect its “strategic interests” in its economic ties with China.
However, he admitted in an interview with the newspaper La Tribune Dimanche that opinions among Europeans regarding the best course of action are “not unanimous” since “some actors still see China essentially as a market of opportunities” despite the fact that it “exports massively” to Europe.
Following his visit in 2023, the French president made remarks that pleased Chinese state media and alarmed some EU partners by saying that Europe shouldn’t be dragged into a dispute between China and the US, especially one that involves democratic, self-governing Taiwan.
China has promised to conquer the island one day, by force if necessary, and sees it as part of its territory.
Macron warned against a “bloc versus bloc logic” at the time, saying, “The worst thing would be to think that we Europeans must be followers and adapt ourselves to the American rhythm and a Chinese overreaction.”
“Two central messages”
Human rights organizations are pressuring Macron to bring up human rights during the negotiations, claiming that China is depriving the Uighur Muslim minority of their rights and imprisoning numerous journalists.
Human Rights Watch acting China director Maya Wang stated, “President Macron should make it clear to Xi Jinping that Beijing’s crimes against humanity come with consequences for China’s relations with France.”
Under Xi’s leadership, the group claimed, human rights in China had “severely deteriorated”.
Analysts, however, doubt that Macron will have much influence over the Chinese president, despite the red carpet greeting and Tuesday’s journey to the frigid Col du Tourmalet, which is located more than 2,000 meters (6,560 feet) above sea level.
Serbia and Hungary, the other two nations on Xi’s itinerary, are thought to be two of Europe’s most pro-Moscow nations.
“China’s endorsement of Russia’s military might and China’s manipulation of markets will be Macron’s two main takeaways,” stated Janka Oertel, head of the European Council on Foreign Relations’ Asia program.
“However, both messages are unlikely to have a significant impact on Chinese behaviour: Xi is not on a mission to repair ties, because from his point of view, all is well.”
SOURCE: TRTWORLD
