Jacques Serais with AFP // Photo credits: Sarah Meyssonnier / POOL / AFP
During a press statement in Paris alongside President Xi Jinping, Emmanuel Macron welcomed, this Monday, May 6, “the commitments” of the Chinese authorities “to refrain from selling any weapons” and “any aid to Moscow “.
Emmanuel Macron welcomed, this Monday, May 6, “the commitments” of the Chinese authorities “to refrain from selling any weapons” and “any aid to Moscow”, during a press statement in Paris alongside President Xi Jinping. “We respect the old ties that unite China and Russia,” argued the French president and “in view of this complex history, we welcome the commitments of the Chinese authorities to refrain from selling any weapons, any aid to Moscow and to strictly control the export of dual-use goods” that could be used for military purposes.
“Maintain a close dialogue”
Referring to “the war of aggression led by Russia against Ukraine”, Emmanuel Macron said he was keen to “maintain a close dialogue” with China, while Paris intends to take advantage of the arrival of Xi Jinping to ensure that Beijing does not switch to clear support for the Russian war effort. “I thank you for this moment of coordination that you wanted before the visit of President (Russian Vladimir) Putin to China, which will also allow us to have a common agenda and to be able to identify the desire or not to move towards this peace sustainable,” he continued.
He stressed that the West did not have “an approach of seeking regime change in Moscow.” The French president also welcomed the “willingness” of his Chinese counterpart to “ask all stakeholders” in the various conflicts for “an Olympic truce” during the Paris Games this summer. “We believe together that an Olympic truce for all theaters of war can be an opportunity to work towards a lasting settlement while respecting international law,” added the French president. The two leaders will meet in the evening at a dinner at the Élysée.