Macron sets Ukraine war as top priority as China's Xi Jinping arrives in France

PARIS (AP) — French President Emmanuel Macron put trade disputes and Ukraine-related diplomatic efforts on top of the agenda for talks Monday with Chinese President Xi Jinping, who arrived in France for a two-day state visit opening his European tour.

In Paris, Xi first joined a meeting with Macron and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen meant to address broader European Union concerns. The discussions will be closely watched from Washington, a month before President Joe Biden is expected to pay his own state visit to France.

In his introductory remarks, Macron said the meeting would address trade issues and how to ensure “fair competition,” then the wars in Ukraine and the Middle East. France seeks to convince China to use its influence to move Russia toward ending the war in Ukraine.

“We are at a turning point in our history” as the Europe-China relationship faces challenges, Macron said, adding that “the future of our continent will very clearly also depend on our ability to develop balanced relations with China.”