Chinese President Macron
Russia and Ukraine
The text did not mention Russia, nor did it include a condemnation of its attack on Ukraine.
Chinese President Xi Jinping and French President Emmanuel Macron pledged in a joint declaration on Friday to “support all efforts aimed at restoring peace to Ukraine.”
The joint declaration was issued at the end of the French President’s visit to China.
The declaration stressed that the two countries “oppose armed attacks on nuclear power plants and other peaceful nuclear facilities” and support the efforts of the International Atomic Energy Agency “to ensure the safety of the Zaporizhia nuclear plant”.
The text did not mention Russia, nor did it include a condemnation of its attack on Ukraine.
The joint declaration stressed the “importance” that “all parties to the conflict” respect international humanitarian law “strictly”.
This comes as Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov commented on French President Emmanuel Macron’s visit to Beijing, stressing that China does not change its position under external influence.
In response to a question whether French President Macron might influence Beijing’s position on the conflict in Ukraine, Peskov said today, Friday: “China is a great power and has its sovereign position, and this position is very serious, and it is not a country that quickly changes its positions under external influence.” .
From the press conference of Macron and the Chinese president
On Friday, the Kremlin said it had followed the “important talks” between Chinese President Xi Jinping, French President Macron and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.
A picture of French President Macron and the President of the European Commission, during a tripartite meeting with the Chinese president, at his giant table in Beijing, sparked ridicule on communication sites in France because of the great distance between the politicians sitting at the large round table.
The Russian “Novosti” agency reported that many recalled the recent visit by the Chinese leader to Moscow, where the latter and Russian President Vladimir Putin sat at a close distance during their talks.
Macron and the Chinese president stressed, during their joint press conference, Thursday, in Beijing, the need to start negotiations in Ukraine as soon as possible, and they strongly rejected any possibility of using nuclear weapons during the crisis.
