French head of state Emmanuel Macron begins his three-day state visit to China on Wednesday, during which the war in Ukraine will be a central topic. Macron is expected in Beijing at 9:15 a.m. (3:15 p.m. local time). The trip is taking place at a time of great international tension, according to Paris. A focus of the visit should be the Russian war of aggression in Ukraine.
“Given the proximity between China and Russia, it is clear that China is one of the few countries in the world, if not the only one, that can have a game-changing effect on this conflict,” the Élysée Palace said in advance. On Wednesday, however, Macron first wants to talk to the local French community and devote himself to cultural relations with China. Talks with China’s head of state and party leader Xi Jinping are scheduled for Thursday – also in a three-way format with EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.
On his trip, Macron wants to reconnect with China after a long break caused by the pandemic and realign the relationship. In addition to the war in Ukraine and cultural cooperation, the focus should be on economic relations and China’s influence in the world, for example on environmental issues.