Topic
At age 39, Emmanuel Macron became the youngest president in the history of France, dramatically reshaping the country's politics in the process. Macron served in Francois Hollande's government and later became the Minister of Economy. However, he resigned in 2016 and announced he would run for the presidency, thereupon founding a new centrist political movement called En Marche! As support for France's major political parties collapsed, Macron's outsider status became his greatest asset. As he emerged as the only remaining obstacle to the rise of Marine Le Pen and the far right, he managed to galvanise what remained of the establishment before sweeping to what had once seemed an impossible victory on May 17, 2017.
Chinese president did not avoid difficult questions from his French and EU counterparts, and visits to Serbia and Hungary reinforced established ties.
Presidents Xi Jinping and Emmanuel Macron not only aired their bilateral differences, but also discussed terms of engagement for challenging days ahead.
Talks on trade imbalances and Ukraine war await Chinese president as he first heads to France in pursuit of ‘pragmatic’ European policy, then Serbia and Hungary, before returning to host Vladimir Putin.
- Moscow and Beijing say they will expand their joint military exercises, conduct regular joint maritime and air patrols and work together on space programmes
- The two nations strengthen their ties soon after the US criticised China for being the ‘primary contributor to Moscow’s war in Ukraine
The Chinese president upgraded relations with Serbia and Hungary, but in France made few if any concessions to reduce the flood of Chinese imports into the EU.
Xi’s arrival and remarks published in Serbia coincided with 25th anniversary of US air strike that killed three Chinese journalists.
First visit by Chinese president to Europe in over five years is highlighting the pivotal role Beijing’s ties with Moscow play in Europe’s relationship with China.
Relaxed mountain setting chosen so Chinese leader Xi Jinping and French counterpart Emmanuel Macron can speak frankly on myriad mutual grievances and grounds for cooperation.
French President welcomes Beijing’s commitment to ‘refrain from selling any weapons or aid’ to Russia, but commerce official reinforces the need to enhance bilateral trade.
Beijing and Paris issue statement denouncing planned Israeli offensive against southern Gaza city following talks between Chinese President Xi Jinping and his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron.
Entourage features senior Chinese diplomats and officials who oversee the country’s economic and trade affairs.
Chinese president attends state dinner hosted by French counterpart after arriving in Paris for his first European tour in five years.
On first day of Chinese leader’s European trip, French president also thanks him for supporting an ‘Olympic truce’ during the Summer Games in Paris.
Xi says China and Europe can contribute to world peace, ahead of meeting with President Emmanuel Macron and EU chief Ursula von der Leyen.
France is Chinese president’s first stop on Europe trip, and Beijing is pinning its hopes on Paris to push Brussels to adopt more ‘positive and pragmatic’ approach to China-EU ties.
President Xi Jinping’s European trip comes amid barrage of EU trade and competition tools largely targeting Chinese firms, including dramatic raids in the Netherlands and Poland.
During an interview with the Economist, Macron said “I’m not ruling anything out”, when asked if he stood by comments earlier this year about the potential to send Western troops to Ukraine.
After police questioned Depardieu on Monday, Paris prosecutor said the actor, 75, would face trial over assaults allegedly committed during filming in 2021.
One of Europe’s most hawkish leaders towards Beijing is confirmed to meet the Chinese president during his first trip to the continent in five years.
Europe must not become a vassal of the US, he said, as he outlined his vision for a more assertive EU on the global stage.
Analysts say China has long called for a ceasefire anyway, whereas any demand that it explicitly condemn Russia is likely to fail.
Security concerns are notably high for the ‘world first’ opening ceremony, which involves boats carrying athletes along the Seine in 100 barges.
Alexis Jandard, a two-time world championship medallist, fell on the diving board and crashed into the water in front of Macron at the opening early this month of the aquatics centre for the 2024 Paris Olympics.
The French leader has fashioned himself into the continent’s de facto figurehead on foreign policy by taking a lead on confronting Russia and the war in Gaza.
Putin said investigators have not determined who ordered attack but it was necessary to ‘find out why the terrorists, after committing their crime, tried to flee to Ukraine’.
