Macron in China: Talks with Xi to end the Ukraine war
French President Emmanuel Macron arrived in Beijing, the Chinese capital, on Wednesday for a three-day official visit, carrying with him a heavy load of geopolitical and economic issues, foremost among them the effort to persuade his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping to use his influence to reach a ceasefire in Ukraine.
Sensitive timing and intense diplomatic activity
This visit, Macron's fourth to China since taking office in 2017, is of exceptional importance given the critical timing of the Russian-Ukrainian conflict. The French president's trip came directly after his meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Paris, where the latter called for unified European support in the face of military escalation.
In a related context, political developments in the United States cast a shadow over the scene, especially with the push for new plans to end the war by US President Donald Trump, making European action towards China an urgent necessity to ensure a balance of power in any future negotiations.
China's expected role in the crisis
The French side is primarily focused on leveraging China's international influence as a permanent member of the Security Council and a strategic partner of Russia. The French presidency has stated clearly that Macron will ask Xi to refrain from providing any means that could enable Moscow to prolong the war.
In this regard, French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot said: "We are counting on China to put pressure on Moscow, and especially Vladimir Putin, to agree to a ceasefire," noting that Beijing has the ability to guide Russia towards making decisive decisions to end the conflict that has been ongoing for nearly four years.
The debate over neutrality and economic support
Despite Macron's previous calls during his visit in April 2023, and Xi Jinping's visit to France in May 2024, the dilemma remains China's position, which the West describes as ambiguous. While Beijing regularly calls for peace talks and respect for national sovereignty, it has not explicitly condemned the Russian invasion.
China faces repeated accusations from Western governments of providing an economic lifeline to Russia and supplying it with vital military components that support its defense industry, something Macron seeks to address diplomatically during his upcoming talks with President Xi and Premier Li Qiang at the Great Hall of the People.
Panda diplomacy and bilateral relations
Beyond the clamor of politics and war, the visit's agenda includes a cultural and symbolic dimension, as Macron will travel to Chengdu. There, he will visit two pandas recently returned to China after a loan spell in France, a move reflecting the continuation of "panda diplomacy" as a bridge for cultural exchange between the two countries, alongside discussions on strengthening trade and economic relations in light of current global challenges.
