As reported in Global Times, China’s President Xi Jinping took an upbeat note on the official visit over April 5-7 of French President Emmanuel Macron. As for EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and the trilateral meeting among Xi, Macron, and von der Leyen, there was also an upbeat tone, but the daily provided less content. Xi made clear to both leaders that the Ukraine crisis cannot be an issue that concerns the development of their relations.
Macron brought with him a business delegation of 50-strong, including representatives of Airbus, luxury giant LVMH, and nuclear energy producer EDF. They also signed a series of agreements to deepen cooperation in aviation, aerospace, and civilian nuclear energy, and to cultivate new growth drivers in cooperation, such as scientific and technological innovation and green development. At China’s invitation, France will be a guest of honor country at the 2024 China International Fair for Trade in Services, and the seventh China International Import Expo.
Speaking at the closing ceremony of the fifth meeting of the China-France Business Council on April 6, President Xi said that China-France economic and trade cooperation have not only boosted the economic growth of the two countries and improved people’s well-being, but also boosted confidence and stabilized expectations for the world’s economic recovery, Xinhua reported.
Global Times covered Xi’s remarks Macron’s visit marks the first by a European head of state after the full resumption of China’s exchanges with the world, and the successful conclusion of China’s “two sessions.” The visit will inject new momentum and bring new vitality to China-Europe relations. China supports Europe in achieving strategic autonomy; upholds that the China-Europe relationship is not targeted at, subjugated to, or controlled by any third party; and believes that Europe will take an independent approach to developing its relations with China, Xi said.
