French President Emmanuel Macron has arrived in China for a three-day state visit, accompanied by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. This marks Macron’s first visit to China since the COVID-19 pandemic began in 2020. With a delegation of over 50 CEOs, the visit is set to focus on strengthening economic ties between France and China. However, the main issue at the forefront of the visit is expected to be the ongoing war in Ukraine and China’s stance towards it.
Macron and von der Leyen are set to meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping, and the French President is expected to push for Chinese support in dealing with Russia’s actions in the conflict. China has remained neutral in the conflict, but has supported Russia economically and diplomatically in the face of Western sanctions. During his state visit to Moscow in March, Xi signed a strategic partnership agreement with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Macron’s visit follows a trip made by German Chancellor Olaf Scholz in November 2022, which was criticised in Europe for being too conciliatory towards China. This time, however, Macron is expected to push back against China’s approach to Russia’s actions in Ukraine.
While France and China have a history of cooperation on issues such as climate change, the visit comes at a time of tense relations between the European Union (EU) and China. Disputes over China’s territorial claims in the South China Sea and human rights issues in Xinjiang, Tibet, and Hong Kong have soured relations. In addition, China’s attempts to punish EU member states for engaging with Taiwan and tit-for-tat sanctions on European parliamentarians have not gone over well. In 2021, the EU suspended a major trade and investment deal with China due to growing tensions.
Macron’s visit is expected to be an opportunity to improve the relationship between the EU and China, particularly in the economic sphere. However, the ongoing war in Ukraine will be a key issue that Macron is expected to push China on. Despite the challenges, Macron has noted that China remains an important partner for France, and the two countries have much to gain from cooperation.
The visit is expected to be closely watched by international observers, particularly given the recent tensions between the EU and China. Macron’s diplomacy during the visit could produce wins down the road for European security, particularly if China chooses to take a more active role in resolving the conflict in Ukraine. However, with the ongoing tensions between China and the West, it remains to be seen how much progress can be made during the visit.