France’s Macron ends trip to China with pact to bolster business, military ties
- But the joint statement with Xi Jinping does not include a commitment from Beijing to use its influence to end Russia’s war on Ukraine, a key Macron request
- Document reflects Macron’s desire to secure more of the giant market for French firms at a time when others in the West want to reduce their dependence on China
France will work with China on thorny issues ranging from 5G technology to military engagement after President Emmanuel Macron signed a sweeping 51-point joint declaration on his last day in the country.
The statement, published as Macron was touring sites in Guangdong province with Chinese leader Xi Jinping, capped off a trip on which he sought to expand economic ties with China, even as geopolitical eddies continued to swirl.
It did not contain a concrete commitment from Beijing to use its influence over Russia to end its 14-month war against Ukraine – a key Macron request – even as it pledged to “support all efforts to restore peace in Ukraine”.
Instead, the statement reiterated Xi’s oft-stated opposition to nuclear war. The two sides said they opposed “armed attacks on nuclear power plants”, mentioning the Zaporizhzhia facility in Ukraine that has been occupied by Russian forces.
On the military front, the pair agreed to “deepen exchanges” between the Chinese People’s Liberation Army’s Southern Theatre, which has jurisdiction over the South China Sea, and the French units in the Asia-Pacific.
