During a visit to Beijing, the French President also asked his Chinese counterpart “not to deliver anything to Russia that would serve its war against Ukraine,” a French diplomat reported.
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Published on 06/04/2023 19:27
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Emmanuel Macron and Xi Jinping in Beijing, during a state visit by the French President to China, April 6, 2023. (NG HAN GUAN / AFP)
“We must find a lasting peace.” During an interview in Beijing on Thursday, April 6, Emmanuel Macron urged Chinese President Xi Jinping to “make sense” of Russia towards Ukraine. “I know that I can count on you (…) to bring everyone back to the negotiating table,” said the French President at a face-to-face meeting at the People’s Palace.
Emmanuel Macron “urged Xi Jinping not to provide Russia with anything useful in his war against Ukraine,” reported several media outlets, including France Télévisions, a French diplomat who attended the meetings between the two heads of state. Western countries fear that China, an ally of Moscow, will supply arms to the Russians. This would “significantly damage” EU-China relations, Ursula von der Leyen warned. The President of the European Commission accompanies Emmanuel Macron on his trip.
For his part, Xi Jinping called for peace talks to be resumed “as soon as possible”. “Nuclear weapons must not be used,” underscored the Chinese leader, who condemned any “attack on civilians” and any “use of biological and chemical weapons.” “In this regard, everyone needs to be reminded of their duties, especially Russia, which recently announced its intention to station such weapons in Belarus. [nucléaires]’, ‘which is not in line with the commitments made by you, us and international law,’ the French President added in press statements.
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