Xi Jinping began his two-day visit on Monday. He assures that he wants to “work” with Emmanuel Macron to resolve the conflict in Ukraine and continue to invest in France.
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Chinese President Xi Jinping began a two-day state visit to France on Monday, May 6, to mark 60 years of diplomatic relations between the two countries. During this visit to Paris, where he was welcomed at the Elysée by Emmanuel Macron, he will also speak with the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen.
Leaders must address the issue of the war in Ukraine together, as Xi Jinping has assured “to work” with his French counterpart at “resolve the crisis”, and they must also discuss possible investments in France. Franceinfo summarizes the issues of this visit for you.
Ukrainian “resolve the crisis”
Emmanuel Macron hopes to find solutions to put an end to the war in Ukraine in the face of a Chinese president whose country is a faithful ally of Vladimir Putin’s Russia. The Head of State intends in particular to ask his counterpart to support the “Olympic Truce” For “all” conflicts during the Paris Games this summer.
Paris then wants, at a minimum, to ensure that China does not fall into clear support for Moscow’s war effort against kyiv. Even “encourage him to use the levers” which it has against Moscow to “contribute to a resolution of this conflict”, according to the Elysée. Wishing the return of “peace and stability” in Europe, the Chinese president said Sunday in an article published in Le Figaro to want “work with France and the entire international community to find good avenues to resolve the crisis” in Ukraine.
“I am not sure that there is much room for maneuver on this issue. We have not had any real change in the Chinese position for almost a year”however, notes the president of the National Institute of Oriental Languages and Civilizations (Inalco), Jean-François Huchet, also an economist specializing in China.
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Issues of Xi Jinping’s visit
“We can imagine that if negotiations were to start, China would play an important role and French diplomacy wishes to keep channels open with China”he analyzes on franceinfo.
Trade disputes between China and Europe
With the presence of Ursula von der Leyen, the numerous trade disputes between Brussels and Beijing should also be on the agenda for discussions. Threatened with being caught between the American and Chinese economies, massively aided by public authorities, the European Union has in recent months increased investigations into Chinese state subsidies to several industrial sectors, in particular to electric vehicles, accused of distorting competition.
“We must act to ensure that competition is fair and not distorted.”
Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commissionin a statement before Xi Jinping’s state visit
“China currently manufactures, with massive subsidies, more than it sells due to its low domestic demand. This leads to an oversupply of subsidized Chinese products, such as electric vehicles and steel, which leads to an unfair tradeaccuses Ursula von der Leyen. Europe cannot accept such market-distorting practices which could lead to deindustrialization in Europe.”
According to Emmanuel Macron, who spoke in an interview with La Tribune SundayEuropeans are not “not unanimous” on the strategy to adopt because, he says, “certain players still see China as essentially a market of opportunities” while “exports massively to Europe”. He pleads for “better protect our national security”, “be much more realistic in defending our interests” And “obtain reciprocity”.
In Beijing, these measures judged “protectionists” go badly. The Chinese authorities have thus launched their own anti-subsidy investigation, against which the President of the Republic intends to speak out. It targets in particular French cognac, the sector of which is said to be “hostage” tensions between the EU and Beijing.
The possibility of future investments
Beyond the tensions, discussions for possible new investments are underway, even if no incredible contract has been announced at this stage. A Franco-Chinese economic forum is notably planned for Monday at the Marigny theater in Paris. France remains dependent on China in strategic sectors such as electronics, medicines and electric batteries.
In his interview with FigaroXi Jinping assured that the two countries are capable “to deepen their cooperation in innovation to promote green development”, as is already the case with battery factories. “The Chinese government supports more Chinese companies in their investment in France and hopes that France will offer them a fair and equitable business climate.” Xi Jinping also declares that his country will be “happy to have more quality French agricultural and cosmetic products on the Chinese market to meet the growing aspiration for a better life”.
The delicate subject of human rights
The sensitive issue of human rights must be addressed. Several thousand Tibetans, according to their representatives, demonstrated on Sunday in Paris in support of the Tibetan and Uighur community and against the visit of the Chinese president to France, “country of human rights” that welcomes “a dictator”. Monday morning, Reporters Without Borders (RSF) also organized an action to protest against the welcome given to the head of state. The NGO recalls in particular that 119 journalists are currently in detention in China and that its representatives can no longer travel to Chinese territory.
Emmanuel Macron plans to discuss these issues during a more personal getaway to the Pyrenees, where, as a child, he spent his vacations with his grandmother. The head of state prefers to mention “disagreements” instead “behind closed doors” and not, for example, make the Taiwan issue a priority, even though it is at the heart of strong tensions between the United States and China.
If the issue of human rights is indeed “at the center of the relationship” Franco-Chinese, we should nevertheless not expect much new on this subject during this state visit, according to Jean-François Huchet, president of Inalco. “I believe that it will be addressed, but without illusion since today we have a tightening of the Chinese regime on everything that concerns civil society and minorities. We must be aware that there will be very, very little “evolution on this issue.”