EU Commission Chief Ursula von der Leyen and French President Emmanuel Macron have urged China’s President Xi Jinping to ensure more balanced trade at the start of the Chinese leader’s visit to Paris, during which Macron will also press him on Ukraine.
Xi was in Europe for the first time in five years, at a time of growing trade tensions, with the European Union investigating several Chinese industries including electric vehicle exports, while Beijing is probing mostly French-made imports of brandy.
Macron said Europe and China were at a junction in history that required resolving structural difficulties, including reaching a level playing field for businesses.
“The future of our continent will also very clearly depend on our capacity to further develop in a balanced way our relationship with China,” he said as the three sat at a round table under the gilded ceilings of the Élysée Palace.
Minutes before, Macron and Xi shook hands in the palace courtyard while the Republican Guard’s orchestra played welcome music.
Macron has a tendency to hug his counterparts, but Xi doesn’t. This time, Macron just seemed to squeeze Xi’s arm as they were shaking hands. Macron, who welcomed him in the courtyard, walked with him inside the palace.
In brief public comments ahead of talks behind closed doors, Xi responded that he viewed relations with Europe as a priority of China’s foreign policy and that both should stay committed to the partnership.
“As the world enters a new period of turbulence and change, as two important forces in this world, China and Europe should adhere to the positioning of partners, adhere to dialogue and cooperation,” Xi said.
Von der Leyen said China and Europe have a shared interest in peace and security, issues related to market access and trade pose challenges to their relationship.
“We have a substantial EU-China economic relationship,” she said. “But this relationship is also challenged, for example, through state-induced overcapacity, unequal market access, and overdependencies, and these are all issues that we will address today.”
Macron said Europe and China were at a junction in history that required resolving structural difficulties, including reaching a level playing field for businesses.
“The future of our continent will also very clearly depend on our capacity to further develop in a balanced way our relationship with China,” he said as the three sat at a round table under the gilded ceilings of the Élysée Palace.
Minutes before, Macron and Xi shook hands in the palace courtyard while the Republican Guard’s orchestra played welcome music.
Macron has a tendency to hug his counterparts, but Xi doesn’t. This time, Macron just seemed to squeeze Xi’s arm as they were shaking hands. Macron, who welcomed him in the courtyard, walked with him inside the palace.
In brief public comments ahead of talks behind closed doors, Xi responded that he viewed relations with Europe as a priority of China’s foreign policy and that both should stay committed to the partnership.
“As the world enters a new period of turbulence and change, as two important forces in this world, China and Europe should adhere to the positioning of partners, adhere to dialogue and cooperation,” Xi said.
Von der Leyen said China and Europe have a shared interest in peace and security, issues related to market access and trade pose challenges to their relationship.
“We have a substantial EU-China economic relationship,” she said. “But this relationship is also challenged, for example, through state-induced overcapacity, unequal market access, and overdependencies, and these are all issues that we will address today.”
Source: Reuters
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