(Finance) – “Today the world is going through profound historical changes: China and France, as permanent members of the UN Security Council and large independent countries, as well as strenuous promoters of multipolarization and the democratization of international relations, have the ability and responsibility to overcome differences”. That’s what he said Xi Jinping At the beginning of bilaterally with the French counterpart Emmanuel Macron, speaking of “stable, mutual, pioneering and progressive China-France strategic partnership with true multilateralism for peace, stability and prosperity in the world”. Macron is the first European head of state to visit China after the complete recovery of foreign trade thanks to the removal of restrictions against Covid.
Xi recalled that, thanks to “the joint efforts of both parties, the China-France relations maintained a positive and steady development momentum”, with “high-density and high-quality strategic communication through various online and offline methods”. The two countries have experienced a “fast-growing volume of bilateral trade and cooperation in the fields aerospace, agriculture and food which has achieved important results”. China and France – concluded Xi – have maintained close communication and collaboration on issues such as climate change, biodiversity and the development of Africa.
On the Ukrainian crisis, China insists “in promoting peace talks and a political solution”, expressing its willingness to collaborate with France to invite the international community to “maintain rational moderation and avoid taking actions that could aggravate the crisis or take it out of control “. Xi Jinping, meeting the media after the bilateral meeting, said that “we must strictly respect international humanitarian law, refrain from attacking civilians and civilian structures and protect women, children and other victims of conflicts”. Macron and Xi today called for peace talks between Russia and Ukraine “as soon as possible”. The resumption “of peace talks as soon as possible” must be in accordance with the purposes and principles of the United Nations Charter – explained the detail the Chinese president – taking into account “the legitimate security concerns of all parties, seeking a political solution and building a balanced, effective and sustainable European security framework”.
After the Sino-French summit the Chinese president held a trilateral meeting with Macron and the president of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen today in Beijing. In the trialogue “President Xi stressed that in a complex and volatile world, China and the EU must engage in dialogue and cooperation, support global peace and stability, promote common development and prosperity, and address global challenges together – said Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying – China is ready to work with the EU to steer China-EU ties in the right direction and tone and revitalize mutually beneficial cooperation in various fields, injecting a fresh headwind into China-EU relations”.
The Chinese president has assured, in talks with Macron and von der Leyen, that he intends to hear the Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky to promote the resumption of peace talks with Russia. “I have encouraged President Xi to contact President Zelensky, I know from my phone calls that President Zelensky has asked, even publicly, and it was interesting to hear President Xi reiterate his willingness to talk to him when the conditions and the moment will allow it – van der Leyen told reporters -. China’s position is crucial for the European Union. As a member of the UN Security Council, China has a great responsibility and we expect China to carry out this task by promoting a just peace that respects the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine”. Von der Leyen also signaled that he stressed in the meeting that he was “strongly in favor of President Zelensky’s peace plan”, but reported that he “welcomed some of the principles set by China. In particular in relation to nuclear safety and decrease in nuclear risk and China’s claims that the use of nuclear weapons or threats to use nuclear weapons are unacceptable”. Von der Leyen he also said that the EU also counts “on China not to provide any military aid to Russia either directly or indirectly, because arming the aggressor would be against international law and would significantly damage our relations”.
“China has a very effective and impressive mediation potential, and Beijing’s recent diplomatic successes have eloquently demonstrated this. But the situation with Ukraine is still difficult, for now there are no prospects for a peaceful solution,” he said. commented on Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov.