French President Emmanuel Macron arrived on Wednesday for a state visit to China, AFP reported, writes TASR.
In short:
- French President Macron has begun a state visit to China
- It focuses on economic cooperation and strategic partnership
- He will meet with Chinese leaders, including Xi Jinping
- Negotiations include topics such as Ukraine and human rights
The Elysee Palace recalled in its statement that this is the fourth state visit of the French president to China. At the talks in Beijing, Macron will push for a balanced agenda of economic and trade cooperation with an emphasis on “sustainable and solid growth that will benefit all.”
Meeting with Xi Jinping
During his visit, Macron will meet Chinese leader Xi Jinping, who they last met in person on the sidelines of the G20 summit in Brazil in November 2024.
In China, Macron will present a program of cooperation in economic and trade matters, which will also be the focal point of the French G7 presidency in 2026. On this occasion, the main challenges of the strategic partnership between France and China will be addressed, as well as several important international issues with an emphasis on balancing economic relations. According to the French media, the topic of the conversation should also be the war in Ukraine.
Trying to influence Russia
“We want China to be able to persuade and influence Russia to come to a cease-fire as quickly as possible and consolidate this cease-fire through negotiations that, in our view, should lead to firm security guarantees for Ukraine,” said an unnamed French diplomat, adding that Paris expects Beijing to “refrain from providing Russia with any means that will allow it to continue the war.”
In addition, the Tibetan community in France addressed a letter to Macron before his visit to China, urging him to raise the issue of human rights violations and China’s policy of repression against minorities in Tibet at the negotiations in Beijing.
Signing contracts in sectors
At the beginning of the visit, the French president, accompanied by his wife Brigitte, will visit Beijing’s Forbidden City. On Thursday, he is scheduled to meet with President Xi Jinping, as well as sign bilateral contracts in the energy, food industry and aviation sectors and make press statements.
Macron will also meet with the Chairman of the National People’s Congress, Cao Lechi, and the Chinese Premier, Li Qiang.
Cultural and educational part
After this political part of the trip, Macron will embark on a cultural and educational journey. Both presidential couples will fly to the city of Chengdu in central China’s Sichuan Province, where the Giant Panda Conservation Center is located.
On Friday, Macron is scheduled to visit the Tujiangyan Dam, after which he will meet with students from Sichuan University and then French and Chinese players at the World Mixed Team Table Tennis Championships.
