Visiting French President Emmanuel Macron says he is counting on Xi Jinping to 'bring Russia to its senses and everyone to the negotiating table'.
BEIJING: French President Emmanuel Macron urged China's Xi Jinping on Thursday to reason with close ally Russia and help end the Ukraine war, while Xi responded by saying he hoped the two sides could hold peace negotiations as soon as possible.
French President Emmanuel Macron, left, and Chinese President Xi Jinping take part in a Franco-Chinese business council meeting in Beijing, Thursday, Apr 6, 2023. Moscow poured cold water on prospects for a Chinese mediation of the conflict, insisting on Thursday it had"no choice" but to press on with its offensive.
But addressing the press after his arrival on Wednesday, Macron said Europe must resist reducing trade and diplomatic ties with China and reject what some have cast as an"inescapable spiral" of tension between China and the West. Some analysts had suggested that Macron and von der Leyen may adopt a"good cop, bad cop" role in Beijing with the convivial Frenchman promoting a"reset" in ties and the EU chief laying out the thornier issues and red lines in those relations.
Li said the partnership with the EU and France stood at"a new starting point" and both parties should adhere to"mutual respect and win-win cooperation".
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