French President Emmanuel Macron urged Chinese leader Xi Jinping to cooperate more closely on geopolitics, trade and the environment, as the European Union seeks China's help to end the war in Ukraine.
A large business delegation is accompanying Macron on his fourth state visit to China, as he seeks to bolster his foreign policy credentials and secure commercial deals for French industry.
China, for its part, wants to ease trade frictions with the 27-strong European Union over its heavily subsidised electric vehicle sector, while presenting itself as a reliable trading partner.
"Now, more than ever, dialogue between China and France is vital," Macron told his host during their Thursday meeting at Beijing's Great Hall of the People.
"We have to continue to rally in favour of peace and stability in the world," he added, referring to the conflict in Ukraine. "Our ability to work together is decisive."
The Chinese leader is not expected to approve a long-anticipated 500-jet Airbus order, as that would weaken Beijing's leverage during trade talks with the U.S., which is pressing for new Boeing purchase commitments.
An easing of Chinese duties on EU pork shipments is also not expected, as Beijing seeks to pressure Brussels into agreeing to a minimum price plan for China-made electric vehicles (EVs). France voted in favour of the EV tariffs in the October 2024 vote.
The EU is also poised to unveil new economic security policies next month to reduce the bloc's reliance on China.
"No matter how the external environment changes, our two countries should always demonstrate the independence and strategic vision of major powers," Xi told Macron, adding that China remained committed to promoting peace in Ukraine and Gaza.
Xi encouraged Macron to deepen cooperation in aerospace and nuclear energy, as well as in artificial intelligence, the green economy and biopharmaceuticals.
The two leaders signed 12 cooperation agreements following their talks, covering population ageing, bilateral investment, nuclear energy, and panda conservation.
Macron in the past has sought to project a robust European front in dealing with China, while being careful not to antagonise Beijing, with China a key export market for many of France's most prominent companies.
Top executives from Airbus, France's largest bank BNP Paribas, electrical giant Schneider and train maker Alstom, along with leaders of the French dairy and poultry industry groups, have joined Macron in China.
"Our two countries have a role to play in laying out, with other partners, the foundations for rebalanced economic governance," Macron told Xi, calling for rules that were fairer and stronger, rather than based on "survival of the fittest."
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China is stepping up efforts to promote technology-enabled elderly care, aiming to improve the health, safety and overall wellbeing of its rapidly growing senior population.
China has unveiled its first artificial intelligence model designed to measure how weather conditions affect stock market performance, marking a new step in the integration of climate data and financial analysis.
China has launched a wide-ranging campaign across Central Asia aimed at improving its public image and strengthening its influence in the region.
Canada’s Prime Minister Mark Carney is departing for China (13 January) for the first time since 2017, after years of strained diplomatic relations between the two countries that began in the late 2010s with disputes over trade, national security and human rights significantly weakened their ties.
Real Madrid have parted ways with coach Xabi Alonso, appointing former defender Álvaro Arbeloa as his replacement.
The U.S. has issued an urgent security notice calling all American citizens to leave Iran immediately, citing escalating protests, growing violence and widespread communication shutdowns across the country.
The United Nations’ top court at The Hague has begun hearings on whether Myanmar committed genocide against the Rohingya ethnic minority. Gambia told judges on Monday that Myanmar targeted minority Muslim Rohingya for destruction and made their lives a nightmare in a landmark case.
Apple will use Google’s Gemini artificial intelligence (AI) models for its revamped Siri voice assistant later this year, in a multi-year deal that strengthens the tech giants’ partnership and boosts Alphabet’s position in the race against OpenAI.
President Donald Trump said on Monday any country that does business with Iran will face a tariff rate of 25% on trade with the U.S., as Washington weighs a response to the situation in Iran which is seeing its biggest anti-government protests in years.
China is stepping up efforts to promote technology-enabled elderly care, aiming to improve the health, safety and overall wellbeing of its rapidly growing senior population.
The Trump administration has released a previously classified legal opinion on Tuesday, setting out its justification for the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and U.S. military operations carried out inside Venezuela.
Israel and Arab States have urged the U.S. to delay any potential military action against Iran, warning that such a move could undermine ongoing protests inside the country, according to NBC News.
At least 31 people have been killed after a construction crane fell on top of a train in northeast Thailand. The accident took place in the Sikhio district of Nakhon Ratchasima province, 230 kilometres (143 miles) northeast of Bangkok, on a train bound for Ubon Ratchathani province.
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief: here are the top news stories for the 14th of January, covering the latest developments you need to know.
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