French President Emmanuel Macron meets Xi Jinping in Beijing | World News

French President Emmanuel Macron met with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing on Thursday. French leader tries to dissuade China from backing Russian invasion Ukraine.

In a speech in the capital, Macron said Beijing could play an “important role” in finding a path to peace in the conflict, and welcomed China’s “willingness to work towards a solution”.

Read also | Joe Biden, France’s Macron talk on the phone about China’s role in Ukraine peace

The French president, who arrived on Wednesday for a three-day state visit, shook hands with Xi outside the Great Hall of the People, the center of power in the capital.

An AFP correspondent said Xi greeted his guests on a huge red carpet covered with Chinese and French flags as the national anthems of the two countries were played.

Western pressure is mounting on China to help promote peace in Ukraine.

Read also | Zelensky ‘ready’ to meet Xi Jinping, invite Chinese leader to Ukraine

Despite Beijing’s official neutrality, Xi has never condemned the Russian invasion.

While he recently traveled to Moscow to reaffirm his alliance with Putin — framed as an anti-Western front — Xi did not even speak on the phone with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

Macron, who is visiting with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, said he wanted to “be the voice of a united Europe” on Ukraine and that visiting China with her would help “emphasize the consistency of that approach.” sex”.

In a meeting with Chinese Premier Li Qiang at the Great Hall of the People on Thursday morning, Macron stressed the importance of Sino-French dialogue “in these difficult times”.

“The ability to share a common analysis and build a common path is critical,” he said.

After the talks between Macron and Xi Jinping, the two will issue a statement to the media, followed by a three-party meeting with Von der Leyen, and finally a state banquet.

– Tensions in Taiwan –

The visit comes amid growing pressure from China on Taiwan, with Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen meeting with U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Kevin McCarthy in California.

Macron told reporters on Wednesday that he did not think his Chinese counterparts were willing to “overreact” to the meeting.

Tsai Ing-wen welcomed the talks, saying it showed the self-governing island was “not isolated” on the international stage.

Beijing has balked at any official contact between Taipei and the rest of the world, insisting there is only “one China”.

China has repeatedly warned the two sides against the talks and deployed an aircraft carrier in waters off Taiwan hours before the talks took place.

Taiwan’s Defense Ministry said on Thursday that three more warships had been spotted in waters between the island and mainland China.