The war in Ukraine at the heart of the issues of Emmanuel Macron’s visit to China

Emmanuel Macron must go to China from Wednesday. France considers Beijing to be an essential player in working towards a return to peace in Ukraine.

Emmanuel Macron back in China, more than three years after his last visit. After the covid break, France and China want a rapid resumption of cooperation. The French president arrives Wednesday, April 5 in Beijing He will of course be in question during this visit to the war in Ukraine. France relies heavily on the influence of China.

Xi Jinping’s influence

The Élysée said so this week during the presentation of this state visit. France wants to work with Xi Jinping to move towards a return to peace in Ukraine. Paris considers that China is a major player in this conflict. It is true that since the beginning of the year, Beijing has clearly shown its desire to play a leading role. This included the release of this 12-point document, which some have called a peace plan, in which China called on both sides to open peace talks. China seems to want to play the mediator. Xi Jinping is considered the only great leader who can use his influence over Vladimir Putin.

It is for this reason that Emmanuel Macron wishes, under the terms of the Élysée Palace, in-depth exchanges with the Chinese president on the war in Ukraine. But the French president will have to be convincing, because for the moment China has not really put pressure on Vladimir Putin and has, to this day, still not condemned in a clear and clear way the invasion of Ukraine. .

An increased presence of China on the world stage

Emmanuel Macron arrives in Beijing at a time when China’s place on the world stage continues to grow, as evidenced by the official visits which resumed here in Beijing after the lifting of health restrictions and which follow one another at a rapid pace. impressive. Many African countries, South America, a visit by the Brazilian president is announced in two weeks with the signing of important cooperation agreements. China broadcasts each time its message on the new world order that it wishes to put in place. This policy led to a first major diplomatic success that no one expected: a reconciliation between Iran and Saudi Arabia obtained under the aegis of Beijing.

Westerners are also returning to China, the German Chancellor was the first, followed by Charles Michel, Pedro Sanchez too, the Spaniard who is currently making a surprise visit and who has also stolen the spotlight from Emmanuel Macron within a week of his arrival. Not to mention the reconciliation that is underway with Australia.

When talking about France, the Chinese often look back and remember the time when France and China had privileged relations under General de Gaulle. The Chinese today would like France to be less close to the United States and NATO. A France that could defend China’s interests within the European Union, but times have changed. On these two themes, the Chinese are disappointed by Paris confided a few days ago, to franceinfo, a Beijing political scientist.


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