French President Emmanuel Macron has requested the help of Chinese President Xi Jinping in finding a peaceful resolution to the conflict in Ukraine, asking him to bring all sides together to discuss a way to end the Russian invasion. During a meeting in Beijing on Thursday, Macron expressed his confidence in Xi's ability to persuade Russia to come to the negotiation table. While the US and its allies have rejected any ceasefire proposal that would allow Russia to keep territorial gains, France has welcomed China's efforts to find a diplomatic solution. While Macron acknowledges China's close partnership with Russia, he hopes that Beijing will make significant moves towards a peaceful resolution. Xi stated that China remains committed to peaceful negotiation and political measures to solve the issue.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen met with Chinese President Xi Jinping, as well as French President Emmanuel Macron, and announced that the European Union and China have agreed to hold high-level talks on trade and economic issues, as well as separately on digital issues, to address imbalances. The two dialogues are expected to convene as soon as possible to make progress and achieve concrete results. During the talks, von der Leyen reiterated a warning against China supplying arms to Russia, saying that it would be against international law and significantly harm the relationship between the two sides.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen emphasized the importance of maintaining stability and peace in the Taiwan Strait during her meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping. She stated that no one should unilaterally change the status quo by force in the region and urged for tensions to be resolved through dialogue. However, Xi reiterated China's position on Taiwan, stating that the issue is the core of China's interests and that no compromise should be expected. Von der Leyen also announced that the European Union and China had agreed to hold high-level talks on trade and economic issues, as well as separately on digital issues, to address imbalances. Meanwhile, French President Emmanuel Macron had spoken with US President Joe Biden prior to his meeting with Xi, and they had reaffirmed their support for Ukraine in the face of Russia's ongoing aggression. It is believed that China could have a significant impact on the conflict, given its influence on Moscow, and its diplomatic stance could boost Putin's efforts to wage the war.
Amid the downturn in China-US relations, Xi Jinping's meeting with Emmanuel Macron has provided an opportunity to strengthen ties with the French leader. China is seeking to avoid Europe's support for the US's tough stance, including measures such as export controls on vital technologies that could negatively impact the growth of China, the world's second-largest economy.