PARIS, March 25 (NNN-AGENCIES) – Chinese President Xi Jinping and his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron to hold talks in Paris on Monday with the host leader seeking to forge a united European front to contend with Beijing’s advances.
Xi’s official visit to Paris will mark 55 years since Charles de Gaulle established diplomatic relations with Beijing.
A series of cooperation deals on nuclear power, aerospace and clean energy initiatives, some involving lucrative contracts, are expected to be signed.
On Tuesday, Macron and Xi will be joined by German Chancellor Angela Merkel and EU Commission chief Jean-Claude Juncker to explore “points of convergence” ahead of an EU-China summit in Brussels next month.
“Very happy to welcome President Xi Jinping and his wife to France,” Macron wrote in a tweet Sunday.
“This visit will strengthen our strategic partnership and affirm the role of France, Europe and China towards a strong multi-lateralism.”
Amid tight security, the Chinese and French first couples on Sunday evening enjoyed a private dinner at Beaulieu-sur-Mer, near Nice on the French Riviera.
Macron offered Xi a French translation of Confucius dating from the 17th century, while Xi gave his host a precious vase depicting images of the two countries including a panda and a rooster.
Xi earlier arrived at the resort city of Nice accompanied by his wife Peng Liyuan to be welcomed by French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian and a guard of honour.
Prior to the dinner meeting with Macron, Xi went to the nearby principality of Monaco, where he was received by Prince Albert II and where a government spokesman said talks would “address economic and environmental issues”.
Xi, who has made a priority of establishing China as a global player, travelled from Italy, whose government became the first G7 state to sign up to his landmark new “Silk Road” infrastructure project, a massive undertaking to join Asia to Europe.
Washington and some EU states fear the huge project will give China too much sway. But Xi says it would be a two-way street of investment and trade.
Germany criticised Rome over its participation in the new Silk Road project.
“In a world with giants like China, Russia or our partners in the United States, we can only survive if we are united as the EU,” Foreign Minister Heiko Maas told Welt am Sonntag newspaper.
“And if some countries believe that they can do clever business with the Chinese, then they will be surprised when they wake up and find themselves dependent.” — NNN-AGENCIES