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France 24
France 24
Politics
Leela JACINTO

On China visit, Macron attempts diplomatic balancing act on Ukraine

Emmanuel Macron China Ursula von der Leyen Xi Jinping Vladimir Putin Beijing Europe European Commission European Union Ukraine
French President Emmanuel Macron arrives at Beijing Capital International Airport on April 5, 2023. © Gonzalo Fuentes (Pool), Reuters

French President Emmanuel Macron and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen arrive in Beijing on Wednesday for a three-day state visit in a bid to dissuade China from supporting Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. But will the latest European leaders to visit China be able to manage the fine balance between trade and geopolitics? 

First came German Chancellor Olaf Scholz. Then came European Council President Charles Michel. Next, it was Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez’s turn. Now French President Emmanuel Macron and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen are the latest European leaders to visit China since Beijing dropped its zero-Covid restrictions in December 2022.

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