Emmanuel Macron called on Chinese President Xi Jinping on Thursday to “make Russia sober” and help Ukraine achieve “lasting peace”
Posted on – Thu, 04/06/23 at 11:59pm
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Beijing: French President Emmanuel Macron called on Chinese leader Xi Jinping on Thursday to “make Russia sober” and help bring about a “lasting peace” in Ukraine. Xi received a warm welcome from Vladimir Putin in Moscow last month.
Macron pointed to China’s support for the UN Charter, which calls for respect for the country’s territorial integrity and nuclear agreements. The peace and stability built on those foundations was threatened by the Russian president’s invasion of Ukraine, he said.
Before the February 2022 attack, Xi Jinping’s government declared an “infinite friendship” with Russia but tried to appear neutral. Beijing has called for peaceful talks.
“I know I can count on you to bring Russia to its senses and bring everyone back to the negotiating table, based on the two principles I just mentioned,” Macron told Xi.
“We need to find lasting peace,” Macron said. “I believe this is an important issue for China as well, but also for France and Europe.” Xi did not mention Ukraine or Russia, but said he welcomed the relationship with France. He said Beijing and Paris were “stalwart promoters of a multipolar world,” referring to the erosion of U.S. dominance in economic and political affairs.
Xi Jinping’s government sees Russia as a source of energy and as a partner against what they say is U.S. aggression and unfair criticism of its human rights record.
China is the biggest buyer of Russian oil and gas, which helps shore up the Kremlin’s revenues in the face of Western sanctions. That increases China’s influence, but Xi appears reluctant to undermine the partnership by putting pressure on Putin.
“China has always maintained an objective and fair position on the Ukraine crisis,” said foreign ministry spokesman Mao Ning. “We have always been an advocate of a political solution to the crisis and a promoter of peace talks.” Earlier, Macron said in a meeting with Premier Li Qiang, the ruling Communist Party’s No. “All major conflicts” outside Ukraine.
Li said there was likely to be a “broad consensus” between Macron and Xi, but did not say whether Beijing was willing to lobby Moscow for peace.
Li Keqiang said that this meeting will “send a positive signal that China, France and the EU will work together to maintain world peace and stability.”
Macron arrived in Beijing accompanied by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen in a show of European solidarity.
Last week, von der Leyen warned that the EU must be ready to develop measures to protect trade and investment that China could exploit for security and military purposes.
Meanwhile, NATO’s 31 members warned on Wednesday of “serious consequences” if China started sending arms and ammunition to Russia.
NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said providing lethal aid would be a “historic mistake”. He warned there would be “serious consequences” but declined to go into details.
Chinese spokesman Mao Zedong rejected NATO’s criticism.
“When it comes to Ukraine’s responsibility, I think military blocs such as the US and NATO should take responsibility,” Mao said. “NATO has no right to accuse or pressure China.”
