French President Emmanuel Macron and Chinese leader Xi Jinping met in Beijing on Thursday, where they are set to discuss a range of issues including economic ties, trade tensions, Taiwan and the war in Ukraine.
The meeting is part of Macron¡¯s three-day state visit to China, which will end in the southwestern Sichuan province. While the two leaders have showcased their strong personal relationship with trips to each other¡¯s countries in recent years, many divisive political issues remain unresolved.
One of Macron¡¯s priorities, which he plans to spotlight when France hosts the Group of Seven summit next year, is addressing what he calls ¡°global trade imbalances.¡± The country¡¯s trade deficit with China reached around €47 billion ($55 billion) in 2024, according to the French treasury. Macron is hoping to attract more Chinese investment into France, whose major exports include aeronautics and luxury goods.
Tensions between the countries escalated last year when Paris backed the European Union¡¯s decision to impose tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles. That prompted Beijing to retaliate by setting minimum price requirements on French cognac makers, leading French pork and dairy producers to worry that they will be hit with similar measures.
China, meanwhile, has been looking for support from France ¡ª one of the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council ¡ª in its dispute with Japan over Taiwan¡¯s status. Tensions escalated after Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi suggested last month that a conflict over Taiwan could pose an existential threat to Japan.
On the eve of the Macron-Xi meeting, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi told his French counterpart, Jean-Noel Barrot, that as World War II victors, China and France must not allow Japan to ¡°stir up troubles¡± over Taiwan or repeat historical mistakes.
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