In China, Macron says supporting Russian 'aggressor' in Ukraine would be 'complicit'

French President Emmanuel Macron delivers a speech at the Red Brick Art Museum in Beijing, China, Wednesday, April 5, 2023. AP - Thibault Camus

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Can China play a role in resolving the conflict in Ukraine? This is what Emmanuel Macron thinks, who arrived on Wednesday, April 5 for a three-day visit to China, and who is due to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping on Thursday. China has no interest in supplying weapons to Russia, the French president warned.

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With our correspondent in Beijing, Stéphane Lagarde

We are not going to negotiate peace during this trip, because the conditions are not met. It is rather a question of re-engaging China, which can "play a major role in resolving the conflict", through its proximity to Russia, explained the French president.

Paris has evolved on the issue in recent weeks: there is no question of letting Moscow confiscate dialogue. "I think that this dialogue with China is essential, because we, Europeans of the European Union, we would be wrong to leave the exclusivity of the dialogue to China, to other continental Europeans that are the Russians," said Emmanuel Macron.

Faced with criticism of supposed naivety vis-à-vis China, the French head of state said he had coordinated with European partners. He also called Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Joe Biden.

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China's interest is not to have a war that lasts Macron said, responding to journalists' questions about fears of Chinese arms supplies to Russia.

Before warning: "Anyone who would help the aggressor would put himself in the situation of being complicit in a violation of international law," even if Paris will not brandish a threat of sanctions during its meeting with Xi Jinping this Thursday at the Great Hall of the People, because "it is never a good way to engage than to threaten".

► Read also: In China, Emmanuel Macron advocates the "soft method" vis-à-vis Beijing

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Read on on the same topics:

  • China
  • France
  • Emmanuel Macron
  • Ukraine
  • Russia
  • Xi Jinping
  • Diplomacy