Wednesday, December 11, 2024

Macron to urge China’s Xi Jinping to help end Ukraine conflict during state visit – Times of India

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NEW DELHI: French President Emmanuel Macron during two-day state visit of China’s Xi Jinping will urge him to leverage his influence to push Russia towards ending the conflict in Ukraine.

Both leaders are set to address trade disagreements concerning electric vehicles, cognac, and cosmetics.

Talks about diplomatic efforts to support Ukraine and put pressure on Russia are a top priority for France, according to Macron’s office.

The discussions will also include the Middle East, trade issues and global challenges including climate change. The European Commission president will join part of the meetings to raise broader EU concerns.

“French authorities are pursuing two objectives that are ultimately contradictory,” Marc Julienne, director of the Center for Asian Studies at the French Institute of International Relations, wrote in a briefing note. “On the one hand, to convince Xi that it’s in his interest to help Europeans to put pressure on Vladimir Putin to end the war and, on the other hand, to dissuade the Chinese president from delivering arms to his Russian friend.

“In short, we think that Xi can help us, but at the same time we fear that he could help Putin,” Julienne wrote.

As the upcoming Summer Olympics are set to be held in France, Macron said he would ask Xi to use his influence to make the Games “a diplomatic moment of peace” and respect the Olympic Truce.

Macron is expected to focus on trade along with French concerns about a Chinese antidumping investigation into cognac and other European brandy, and tensions over French cosmetics and other sectors.

Xi will first join a meeting with Macron and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyenon Monday in Paris.

“Europe cannot accept such market distorting practices that could lead to deindustrialization in Europe,” von der Leyen said in a statement ahead of the meeting. “We have to act to make sure that competition is fair and not distorted.”

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