Xi Jinping arrives this Sunday in Paris, where his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron intends to advocate “reciprocity“commercial and the search for a resolution to the war in Ukraine in the face of a Chinese president who continues to show his support for Russia.
Returning for the first time to Europe since 2019, the number one Asian superpower organized his tour under the seal of diplomatic balance: after the state visit to France, which has been asking him for a year to use his influence for “bring Russia to its senses“, he will travel to Serbia and Hungary, two countries that have remained close to Moscow.
On Monday, Xi Jinping, who is coming to celebrate 60 years of Franco-Chinese diplomatic relations, will continue meetings with Emmanuel Macron.
In the morning, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen will join the Franco-Chinese duo at the Elysée for a session which should make it possible to raise trade disputes.
And they are many. Threatened with being caught between the American and Chinese economies, massively aided by public authorities, the European Union has in recent months increased investigations into Chinese state subsidies to several industrial sectors, in particular to electric vehicles, accused of distorting competition.
“Olympic Truce“
In an interview with La Tribune on Sunday, Emmanuel Macron recognizes that Europeans are “notnot unanimous” on the strategy to adopt because, he said, “some players still see China as essentially a market of opportunities” while “exports massively to Europe“.
He pleads for “better protect our national security“, “be much more realistic in defending our interests” And “obtain reciprocity“.
In Beijing, these measures judged “protectionists” are going badly. The Chinese authorities have launched their own anti-subsidy investigation mainly targeting French cognac, against which the French president intends to speak out.
Although no major contract was announced at this stage, discussions on investments were ongoing until the end. A Franco-Chinese economic forum is also planned for Monday at the Marigny theater.
In the afternoon, after a formal welcome ceremony with great pomp at the Invalides, and before a banquet at the Elysée, Emmanuel Macron and Xi Jinping will meet face-to-face for the most political sequence, then will express in front of the press.
The Frenchman intends to ask the Chinese to support the “Olympic Truce” For “all“conflicts during the Paris Games this summer.
Paris wants, at a minimum, to ensure that China, main ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin, does not switch to clear support for his war effort against kyiv. Even “encourage him to use the levers“which it has at its disposal in Moscow for”contribute to a resolution of this conflict“, according to the Elysée.
