Macron in China: Xi Jinping calls on all parties not to aggravate the situation in Ukraine

Arthur Delaborde, edited by Loane Nader 14:25 pm, April 06, 2023

The President of the Republic is on his second day of travel to China and met with his Chinese counterpart on this occasion. The subject of the war in Ukraine was at the heart of the meeting between Xi Jinping and Emmanuel Macron. The latter was greeted by a ceremony in great pomp at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing with the Marseillaise played by a brass band, the firing of 21 cannon shots and a review of the Chinese military troops. The Chinese leader called on all parties to the war not to escalate the situation.

"China always favors peace talks and political settlement. We appeal to the international community to maintain reason and restraint and refrain from any action that could lead to further deterioration, even a slippage of the crisis," Xi said on Thursday. "We call for honouring the solemn undertaking that nuclear weapons must not be used, and nuclear war must not be fought."

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"This is the war of all of us"

As for Emmanuel Macron, he expressed his desire for appeasement: "This is our war to all, and you have reminded us very well. And that is why our diplomatic action will remind Russia of its duties. We do not just want an end to the conflict, but respect for Ukrainian sovereignty and territorial integrity is the only condition for a lasting peace."

The French president concluded by recalling the need not to give in to any sudden slippage. "And we don't want any escalation in the short term. But that we give ourselves the means of this stability in the long term." This Thursday evening, Emmanuel Macron and Xi Jinping will dine together at the Great Hall of the People after a trilateral one-hour meeting with Ursula Von Der Leyen, the president of the European Commission.