The leaders of France, Europe, and China gathered in Paris for a trilateral meeting to discuss pressing issues on the global stage. During the meeting, French President Emmanuel Macron and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen urged Chinese President Xi Jinping to cooperate closely with Europe on the Ukraine conflict and to accept fair trade rules.
Macron emphasized the importance of cooperation with Beijing in addressing major crises like the one in Ukraine. Xi Jinping acknowledged that the world is going through a period of chaos and change, emphasizing the important roles that China and Europe play in contributing to global peace and development. While China maintains neutrality on the Ukraine issue, concerns have been raised about its support for Russia.
China has denied providing direct military support to Russia but has supplied dual-use technology to help Russia rebuild its defense industry. Von der Leyen expressed trust in China’s influence over Russia to end the conflict in Ukraine, highlighting the shared interests of Europe and China in peace and security. She emphasized the need to limit the supply of dual-use goods to Russia to prevent them from being used in warfare. Von der Leyen also praised Xi Jinping for his role in reducing tensions arising from Russia’s nuclear threats.
Trade was a significant topic of discussion during the trilateral meeting, with both sides acknowledging challenges in their relationship, especially in economics. Macron called for fair rules in trade relations between the EU and China, emphasizing the importance of balancing their trade relationship. Xi Jinping stressed
