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French President Emmanuel Macron announced the conclusion of his fourth State visit to China on Friday with discussions with Chinese President Xi Jinping on important trade deals and ways to bring peace in Ukraine.

Macron and his wife, Brigitte, were set to arrive in the city of Chengdu in the southwestern Sichuan province, where they are likely to meet the Chinese president and his wife at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing.

Chengdu, home to 21 million people and a major economic hub, is renowned for its cultural diversity and social openness in China. Macron will also interact with Chinese students during his time there.

The French president, who said he was very “touched” by Xi’s gesture of extending official protocol, added that their meeting was a sign of “mutual respect, trust and desire to act together” at a time when the global tariff war was strengthening China’s position in world politics.

Macron had hosted Xi in the Pyrenees in May, 2024.

 

Also Read: Macron to discuss trade and Ukraine peace with Xi Jinping

The most important discussion between the two leaders during the French President’s latest visit to China centred on the ongoing war in Ukraine with Russia and how China could play a role in persuading Russia to end the conflict.

While the Chinese side has maintained neutrality in the context of the war, it has not condemned Russia publically for its 2022 invasion. 

Western nations, however, often accuse China of providing Russia with economic support through the purchase of crude oil, while also supplying it with military components for its defence industry, claims that are denied by Beijing.

Besides, the two leaders also discussed improving a skewed distribution of trade and supplies between Beijing and Paris that sees France import more than 46 per cent products from Beijing.

With Jinping assuring Macron of greater investments by China, the visit has been rather successful for the French President.

A letter of intent to this effect was signed on Thursday, with Xi Jinping stating his readiness to “increase reciprocal investments” for a “fair trading environment”.