French president Macron arrives in China

Kathmandu: French President Emmanuel Macron has arrived in Beijing for three-day state visit to China on Wednesday.

Macron landed in Beijing at around 3:15 pm local time and, was greeted by Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang. Accompanied by a delegation of more than 50 people, Macron will meet Chinese president Xi Jinping. During the visit, he will discuss various issues ranging from Ukraine war to bilateral trade.

Macron will look to stand firm on Ukraine during talks with his counterpart Xi and offer a peaceful solution to the war. Similarly, the French leader’s aims include preserving and rebalancing China’s trade ties with Europe as well as safeguarding French interests in the Asia-Pacific, where Paris sees itself as a player due to its overseas territories and military deployments.

He will hold talks on Thursday with Chinese leaders and attend a state dinner in the evening.

On Friday, he will travel to Guangzhou in southern China to meet local students, taking with him a broad delegation of top politicians, business leaders and even celebrities, including composer Jean-Michel Jarre.

On the eve of his visit, Macron discussed his trip to China and support for Ukraine during a phone call with US President Joe Biden, the White House said.

The conversation showed the “common will of France and the United States to engage the Chinese to accelerate with us the end of the war in Ukraine and build a lasting peace”, Macron’s office said.

The US and French presidents also hope to “obtain from the Chinese a contribution to the global effort of North-South solidarity” and to build “a common agenda” on climate and biodiversity.