Xi Jinping and Emmanuel Macron speak for first time since Aukus alliance was announced
- Chinese leader tells France’s president that the EU should maintain its autonomy in foreign policy
- Macron says he hopes the delayed China-EU investment deal will soon be approved, according to CCTV
Chinese President Xi Jinping told his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron on Tuesday that the European Union should maintain its autonomy in foreign policy, in their first phone conversation since the formation of a defence alliance between the US, Britain and Australia.
The two leaders had spoken by phone in February and during a trilateral video summit with Angela Merkel in July. This call came after France was angered by the announcement last month of the Aukus alliance, which will see the US and Britain share nuclear submarine technology with Australia.
The deal also means Canberra will cancel its contract with France for conventionally powered submarines. France Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian has described the pact as a betrayal.
“Recent international events have once again shown that France is correct to advocate the strategic autonomy of the EU,” CCTV quoted Xi as saying during his conversation with Macron.
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The two leaders maintaining timely communications and coordination could “help steer the course of Sino-French relations and inject more stability into the world situation”, Xi also said.
He suggested that China and Europe improve their understanding and mutual trust through continuous high-level communication and dialogue, reduce misunderstandings and misjudgment, properly manage differences, and strengthen political leadership in China-EU relations.
