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French President Emmanuel Macron meets students and dines with Xi Jinping in the southern city of Guangzhou Friday, wrapping up a three-day state visit to China that has been dominated by discussions of how Beijing could mediate the Ukraine conflict.
The French president, who arrived in the capital on Wednesday, has said he is seeking to dissuade China from supporting Russia’s invasion of its neighbour.
In talks with the Chinese leader on Thursday, he told Xi that “I can count on you to bring Russia to its senses and everyone to the negotiating table”.
In remarks to the press following their meeting, Xi said he “stood ready to issue a joint call with France” for the resumption of “peace talks as soon as possible”, according to Chinese state media Xinhua.
And, according to a French diplomat, Xi expressed a willingness to speak with Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky, but only when the time is right.
European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen, who is accompanying Macron on his visit, welcomed Xi’s openness to speaking with Zelensky.
In contrast with the amicable Macron, von der Leyen has struck a more firm tone in her talks with Chinese officials this week.
On Thursday, she said she had her “deep concerns about the deterioration of the human rights situation in China” with officials, as well as warned Beijing that arms shipments to Russia would “significantly harm” relations.
Moscow however, has poured cold water on prospects of Beijing’s mediation of the war in Ukraine, insisting on Thursday it had “no choice” but to press on with its offensive.
“Undoubtedly, China has a very effective and commanding potential for mediation,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said.
“But the situation with Ukraine is complex, so far there are no prospects for a political settlement.”
Beyond the war in Ukraine, Macron’s visit…
