French President Emmanuel Macron said on Wednesday (Apr 5) that China had a "major role" to play in finding a path to peace in Ukraine, as he kicked off a three-day visit to Beijing, APA reports citing Channel News Asia.
Speaking at a gathering of the French community in Beijing ahead of a meeting with Chinese leader Xi Jinping on Thursday, Macron said that France would seek to work with China "in this shared responsibility for peace and stability" in Ukraine.
"China, with its close relationship with Russia, which has been reaffirmed in recent days, can play a major role," French President said, noting Beijing's stated opposition to the use of nuclear weapons in Ukraine as well as its proposal for peace between Kyiv and Moscow.
The French president's first trip to China in four years is set to be dominated by the conflict in Ukraine, with an official from his office telling reporters that he would seek to stand firm in talks with Xi.
Macron's aims also include preserving and rebalancing China's trade ties with Europe, as well as safeguarding French interests in the Asia-Pacific region: "We must not disassociate ourselves, separate ourselves from China," Macron told Beijing's French community upon arrival, saying France would "commit proactively to continue to have a commercial relationship with China".
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