French President Emmanuel Macron has urged China’s President Xi Jinping to reason with Russia and help bring an end to the war in Ukraine as the two held the first of a series of high-level meetings in Beijing.
Macron told reporters that Europe must resist reducing trade and diplomatic ties with Beijing, who is at odds with the West over issues including Taiwan, sensitive technologies and China’s close ties with Russia.
Macron, travelling with a 50-strong business delegation including Airbus, luxury giant LVMH and nuclear energy producer EDF, is also expected to announce deals with China.