[ad_1]
Hong Kong (CNN) French President Emmanuel Macron has said he hopes Chinese President Xi Jinping will “make a point” with Russia and help him end the war in Ukraine.
In his opening remarks at Thursday’s talks in Beijing, President Macron said Russia had “ended decades of peace in Europe” and said it would seek to respect internationally recognized borders in a “permanent state”. Finding a “peaceful peace” is “an important issue for China. It is for France and Europe.”
China has tried to pretend to be an agent of peace, claiming neutrality in the conflict. But China has refused to condemn Russia’s aggression and has continued to strengthen its economic and diplomatic ties with the Kremlin over the past year, including President Xi Jinping’s official visit last month.
President Xi Jinping, along with Macron, told reporters that the international community was prepared to “jointly call” with France to “exercise restraint” and “avoid taking actions that could further exacerbate the crisis.” said it was done.
He then reiterated China’s existing positions on the war, including calling for peace talks and opposition to the use of nuclear weapons.The phrase has long been seen as a nod to Russia’s interests. .
In his ensuing remarks, Macron spoke about twice as long as Xi, stressing the need for talks with “everyone”, including Russia. “We do not simply want an end to the conflict, but respect for Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, which are the only conditions for lasting peace,” he said.
Macron arrived in Beijing on Wednesday with high hopes for a possible breakthrough by working with China to find a solution to end Russia’s war on Ukraine.
While Ukraine is at the top of the agenda, Macron’s visit also has a strong economic component, with the French president visiting China with a delegation of about 50 business leaders, some They are even expected to make final decisions and sign new contracts during the process.
During the meeting, Xi said Macron’s visit would “give new impetus” to China-Europe relations, according to Chinese state media CCTV.
Citing shared efforts on climate change and Africa’s development, China’s president said the two countries “have the capacity and responsibility to overcome differences and constraints,” CCTV reported.
Xi also said during his meeting with Macron that he was prepared to call Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at the appropriate time, French diplomatic sources told CNN.
Macron will also meet with Xi European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen will hold a tripartite meeting later on Thursday, following a precedent for joint diplomacy with China between France and the European Union.
In his opening remarks, von der Leyen said that while he did not consider decoupling with China a viable or desirable strategy for the EU, he said: “Similarly, we could see many risks for Europe to deal with. ‘ said.
Europe and China are looking for ways to reconnect after straining relations over a range of issues, including China’s three-year stringent pandemic travel restrictions and China’s human rights record for its war in Ukraine.
Ahead of the visit, von der Leyen also promised Ukraine would be a “key topic” for talks with Chinese leaders. She and Macron met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky prior to the trip.
In his opening remarks, von der Leyen also said that to restore peace, “Russia needs to stop aggression and withdraw its troops from Ukraine.”
Beijing’s vaguely worded proposal for a “political solution” to the war announced earlier this year faced skepticism from European leaders, including von der Leyen.The military — backed Moscow. .
Ahead of the meeting, Macron appeared optimistic about working with China to move toward peace.
An Elise source told reporters last week that Macron was “not to question his refusal to denounce China’s red line, especially Russia”, but rather the possibility of benefiting the Ukrainian people. Find a way to create an initiative that is “then to identify a solution to this war.”
A recent example of China as a mediator was on display in Beijing on Thursday.Saudi Arabia and Iran’s foreign ministers said they would resume bilateral ties after seven years, following a landmark deal brokered by China last month. signed a joint statement on
On Friday, Mr Macron continues his state visit to Guangzhou, the commercial hub of southern China, where he plans to dine with President Xi, Elysee sources said.
CNN’s Beijing bureau, Wayne Chang and Teele Rebane from Hong Kong, and Xiaofei Xu and Saskya Vandoorne from Paris contributed to the report.
[ad_2]
Source link