PARIS (AP) — French President Emmanuel Macron held talks with Chinese leader Xi Jinping on Monday focused on industrial disputes, adding the lifting of immediate tariff threats to cognac exports, and diplomatic efforts similar to Ukraine’s.
Xi in France for a two-day state stopover to kick off his European tour.
Speaking alongside Xi after their assembly at the Elysee, Macron said France hoped China’s influence over Moscow would lead Russia to end the war in Ukraine.
“We welcome the Chinese government’s commitment to refrain from promoting arms or aid” and to “strictly control” the sale of technologies that can be used for civilian and military purposes, Macron said.
China claims neutrality in the war.
“History has shown time and time again that any confrontation in the end can only be resolved through negotiation,” Mr. Xi said. “We call on all parties to resume contact and dialogue. “
Russian President Vladimir Putin recently announced plans to visit China this month.
Last year, Macron called on Xi to “bring Russia to its senses,” but that call did not translate into any obvious action on Beijing’s part.
The two leaders also expressed fear about the scenario in the Middle East, where Macron said France and China share the “same goals,” namely “achieving a swift ceasefire, freeing hostages, populations and facilitating the delivery of humanitarian aid. “, inspire regional de-escalation and reopen a political perspective.
Xi called the war between Israel and Hamas a “tragedy” that is “a problem for human consciousness. “
“The foreign network will have to do something. We call for an immediate, comprehensive and lasting ceasefire in Gaza,” he said.
In addition, Xi expressed China’s willingness to negotiate with France “to use the Paris Olympics as an opportunity to advocate for a global ceasefire and cessation of war at the Games. “
Macron advocated making the Paris Games “a diplomacy of peace” and respecting the Olympic Truce.
Trade issues were also at the forefront of the agenda, with Macron denouncing China’s industrial practices that are tightening protections and subsidies.
Macron thanked Xi for his “openness to provisional measures against French cognac. “This comes after China opened an anti-dumping investigation into cognac and other European brandies earlier this year.
A senior French diplomat, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive issues, said Xi had agreed not to apply price lists anytime soon pending further investigation.
French gifts to the Chinese president on Monday included lavish bottles of cognac. Xi has reciprocated with Chinese editions of “Madame Bovary” and old French novels.
France hopes to be able to continue exporting its products, particularly brandy and cosmetics, to the Chinese market.
Earlier, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen joined the two leaders in an assembly to address the European Union’s broader concerns.
The EU launched an investigation into Chinese subsidies last year and could simply impose price lists on electric cars exported from China. The 27-member bloc last month opened an investigation into Chinese wind turbine makers.
“For the industry to be fair, access to any of the markets will have to be reciprocal,” von der Leyen said after the meeting. “Our market is and remains open to fair festivals and investment, but it is not smart for Europe if it undermines our security and makes us vulnerable. “
He said Europe “will not hesitate to make the difficult decisions that are mandatory for its economy and security. “
The talks are expected to be closely watched from Washington, a month before U. S. President Joe Biden’s visit to France.
Xi’s trip to Europe, his first in five years, is aimed at rebuilding relations at a time of global tensions. After France, he will travel to Serbia and Hungary.
Xi’s stopover marks the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations between France and China and Macron’s with China in April 2023. Macron sparked controversy over this when he said France would not blindly cling to the United States by worrying about crises that are not. his concern, allegedly referring to China’s demands for unification with Taiwan.
Several teams – including the International Campaign for Tibet and the French League for Human Rights – have suggested that Macron put human rights issues at the center of his talks with Xi. Demonstrators rallied in Paris upon Xi’s arrival on Sunday, calling for a relaxed Tibet.
Amnesty International has called on Macron to call for the release of Uyghur economics professor Ilham Tohti, jailed for life in China in 2014 for peddling separatism, as well as other imprisoned activists.
On Monday, media watchdog Reporters Without Borders organized a rally in front of the Arc de Triomphe to denounce Xi’s visit, calling the Chinese president “one of the biggest predators of press freedom. “The organization says 119 journalists are imprisoned in the country.
Macron said in an interview published Sunday that he would raise his human rights concerns. He addressed the issue in his public comments on Monday.
The second day of the layover is more personal. Macron invited Xi to make a stopover at the Col du Tourmalet in the Pyrenees, where the French leader spent time as a child to see his grandmother. The gesture is intended to be a reciprocal gesture after Xi took Macron. last year to the apartment of the governor of Guangdong province, where his father once lived.
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Barbara Surk in Nice, Angela Charlton in Paris and Fu Ting in Washington contributed to this article.