French President Emmanuel Macron is hosting Chinese President Xi Jinping at the Tourmalet Pass in the Pyrenees for private meetings following a state visit in Paris marked by trade disputes and concerns over Russia's actions in Ukraine.
The choice of the Tourmalet Pass holds personal significance for Macron, who spent time there as a child visiting his grandmother. This location was selected as a reciprocal gesture after Xi had taken Macron to the residence of the governor of Guangdong province last year, where Xi's father had lived.
Security measures were heightened in the area, with snow covering the nearby slopes due to fresh snowfall overnight. Authorities blocked access to the winding roads leading up to the pass for several kilometers.
The mountain meetings follow a lavish state visit by Xi, which included a ceremonial welcome at the monument housing Napoleon's tomb and a state dinner at the Elysee Palace attended by celebrities and business leaders.
Xi's visit to Europe is part of an effort to strengthen relations amid global tensions. Following his time in France, he is scheduled to travel to Serbia and Hungary to continue his diplomatic engagements.
