French President Emmanuel Macron is set to host Chinese President Xi Jinping for a two-day state visit in Paris, where they will discuss a range of issues including the war in Ukraine, trade disputes, and global challenges like climate change. Macron’s office has stated that efforts to support Ukraine and pressure Russia are top priorities for France, and the European Commission president will also join the meetings to raise broader EU concerns. This visit comes as part of Xi’s European trip aimed at rebuilding relations amid global tensions, with stops in Serbia and Hungary following his time in France.
During the discussions, Macron is expected to press Xi on Chinese companies supplying the Russian war effort, despite EU sanctions on Russia, and to encourage China to use its influence with Moscow to resolve the conflict in Ukraine. France is also hopeful that China will maintain a dialogue with Kyiv as part of the ongoing conflict. However, experts warn that France’s objectives may be contradictory, as they seek Chinese support to pressure Putin while also attempting to dissuade China from providing arms to Russia. Macron will also urge Xi to use his influence to ensure that the upcoming Summer Olympics serve as a moment of peace and respect for the Olympic Truce.
Trade issues are also expected to be a key focus of the discussions, with Macron planning to raise concerns about a Chinese antidumping investigation into cognac and other European brandy, as well as tensions over French cosmetics and other sectors. Macron has been vocal about his support for Europe’s economic sovereignty and has criticized trade practices by both China and the U.S. as distorting markets and leading to deindustrialization. The EU has launched an investigation into Chinese subsidies and could potentially impose tariffs on electric vehicles exported from China, adding to the trade tensions between the two sides.
The visit will also be closely watched by the U.S., as President Joe Biden is expected to make his own state visit to France shortly after Xi’s trip. Macron’s coordination with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, who has recently visited China and dined with Macron in Paris, signals a unified European approach to addressing trade and economic issues with China. The 60th anniversary of France-China diplomatic relations marks Xi’s visit to Paris, coming after Macron’s trip to China in April 2023, where he emphasized France’s independence in foreign policy decisions. Human rights groups have called on Macron to address human rights issues in his talks with Xi, including the release of imprisoned activists and journalists in China.
The visit will include a welcome ceremony at the Invalides monument, bilateral talks at the Elysee presidential palace, and a French-Chinese economic forum, followed by a state dinner with their wives. The second day of the visit will be a more personal affair, with Macron inviting Xi to visit the Tourmalet Pass in the Pyrenees mountains, where Macron spent time as a child. This gesture is meant to reciprocate Xi’s hosting of Macron in Guangdong province last year. Despite the range of issues on the agenda, Macron has indicated that human rights concerns will be raised during the discussions, including the imprisonment of journalists and activists in China. The visit is expected to highlight the complex relationship between France, China, and the EU, as they navigate trade disputes, global challenges, and human rights issues.
