Macron urges Xi to discuss with Russia for peace in Ukraine
Macron also asked Xi to pressure Russia to comply with international rules on nuclear non-proliferation. Russian President Vladimir Putin has said he will station tactical nuclear weapons in Ukraine’s neighbor Belarus, a move seen as a dangerous escalation in a bloody year-long conflict.
Xi said all countries should honor their commitments not to use nuclear weapons and “should not wage nuclear war”, without mentioning Russia. He called on the international community to “refrain from any actions that could aggravate the crisis or even spiral out of control”.
Moscow poured cold water on China’s ability to mediate the conflict, insisting on Thursday that it had “no choice” but to continue the offensive.
“There is no doubt that China has a very effective mediation and commanding capacity,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said.
“But the situation with Ukraine is very complicated, so far there is no prospect for a political solution,” he said.
The EU leaders’ visit to China comes after years of deteriorating relations with Beijing over issues including alleged human rights abuses in Xinjiang, a stalled investment treaty and China’s waivers. forcibly condemning Russia for its invasion of Ukraine.
But speaking to the press after arriving on Wednesday, Macron said Europe must resist a reduction in trade and diplomatic ties with China and reject what some have called an “impossible spiral of tensions”. avoid” between China and the West.
Von der Leyen, on her first visit to China since taking office as European Commission president in 2019, also planned to hold trilateral talks with Macron and Xi on Thursday night. .
Macron also met Prime Minister Li Qiang before meeting Xi in a grand ceremony outside the Great Hall, where the two leaders witnessed a 21-gun salute and strutted side by side on the red carpet as a brass band playing their national anthem.
In comments reported by state media CCTV, Xi said China and France have the ability and responsibility to overcome “differences” and “restrictions” as the world undergoes historic changes. deep. Xi said China was willing to work with the European Union (EU) to restart “exchanges” at all levels.
