During a recent meeting in Paris, French President Emmanuel Macron and European Commission (EC) President Ursula von der Leyen called upon Chinese President Xi Jinping to work closely with Europe on resolving the Ukraine conflict and adhere to fair trade rules. Mr. Macron emphasized the importance of addressing major crises, such as the situation in Ukraine, and pledged cooperation with Beijing in finding solutions.
President Xi Jinping acknowledged the critical role that China and Europe play in a world marked by chaos and change. He underscored the need for continuous contributions to global peace and development. Although China remained neutral on the Ukraine issue, concerns were raised in the West about potential Chinese support for Russia. Despite US accusations, China defended its right to maintain normal trade relations with all countries.
Ms. von der Leyen expressed her trust that China would use its influence over Russia to help end the conflict in Ukraine, highlighting shared interests in peace and security. Discussions during the trilateral meeting also focused on trade relations, with challenges identified in economic imbalances and issues such as subsidies to specific industries.
Mr. Macron called for fair rules in trade relations between the EU and China, stressing the importance of balanced development in their partnership. Mr. Xi emphasized the resolution of trade differences through dialogue and consideration of each other’s legitimate concerns.
Following his visit to Paris, President Xi Jinping planned to visit Serbia and Hungary, two countries friendly to Russia in the region. The trilateral meeting addressed critical global issues and underscored the need for cooperation between China and Europe in addressing challenges such as the Ukraine conflict and trade relations.
