Chinese President Xi Jinping made a two-day state visit to France to meet with French President Emmanuel Macron, with discussions centering on trade disputes, diplomatic efforts regarding Ukraine, and concerns in the Middle East, Associated Press reports.
Macron urged China to use its influence on Russia to help end the war in Ukraine and welcomed China’s commitment to refraining from selling weapons or aiding in the conflict, as well as its pledge to strictly control the sales of products and technologies that could have both civilian and military applications. Xi emphasized the importance of negotiation in resolving conflicts, calling for all parties involved in the Ukraine conflict to restart contact and dialogue. Both leaders expressed concerns about the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict in the Middle East and called for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza.
The leaders also discussed trade issues, particularly tariffs on French Cognac, with Macron expressing gratitude after Xi agreed to postpone tariffs pending further investigation, a move following an anti-dumping investigation into European brandy earlier in the year.
The meeting also addressed broader EU concerns regarding Chinese subsidies and potential tariffs, with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen joining the discussions. The EU has launched investigations into Chinese subsidies and may impose tariffs on certain products.
