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BEIJING — Chinese President Xi Jinping showed no sign of changing his position over Russia’s war on Ukraine after talks Thursday with French counterpart Emmanuel Macron.
On the second day of Macron’s state visit to China, Xi took his long-standing line on Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine — saying that “all sides” have “reasonable security concerns” — and gave no hint he would use his influence to help end the conflict.
“China is willing to jointly appeal with France to the international community to remain rational and calm,” was as far as the Chinese leader would go, during a press conference at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing.
“Peace talks should be resumed as soon as possible, taking into account the reasonable security concerns of all sides with reference to the U.N. Charter … seeking political resolution and constructing a balanced, effective and sustainable European security framework,” he added, sitting next to Macron.
The French president arrived in China on Wednesday in the hope of pushing China to use its leverage with Russia to end the conflict, and to get Beijing to speak out against the Kremlin’s threat to host nuclear missiles in Belarus.
Instead, Macron and Xi spent one and a half hour in bilateral talks that were described as “frank and constructive” by an Elysée Palace official, before signing several deals — including the sale of Airbus aircraft — and cultural cooperation. During the deal-signing ceremony, every Chinese minister and business executive bowed deeply to Xi before signing the contracts with their French counterparts.
But in a protocol faux pas that was noted by members of Xi’s Chinese entourage, Macron spoke for roughly twice as long as his host during the press conference.
After reading his carefully scripted remarks while staring straight ahead, Xi at times looked impatient and annoyed as Macron continued speaking. Xi heaved a couple of deep sighs and looked uncomfortable as Macron addressed him directly while apparently ad-libbing on the Ukraine war and about their joint responsibility to uphold peace.
The tone of the exchange contrasted starkly with a signing ceremony for various commercial contracts that immediately preceded the “press conference with Communist characteristics,” at which the two leaders took no questions from the media.
At the press conference, Macron appealed to Xi to explicitly condemn Russia’s aggression against Ukraine.
“Speaking about peace and stability means talking about the war waged by Russia against Ukraine. You’ve made some important comments. This is a war that involves all of us because a member of the Security Council has decided to violate the U.N. charter. We cannot accept that,” said Macron
He also slammed Russia’s threat to station nuclear weapons in Belarus as “not compliant” with international nuclear agreements.
Xi did talk about the need for the warring parties to “protect victims including women and children,” which comes after the International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant against Putin over his role in illegally transferring Ukrainian children to Russia. Xi didn’t mention Russia in his remarks, though.
On Thursday, Xi also held talks with Macron and with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, who was invited by Macron to showcase European unity but who will not take part in many of the events between the Chinese and French leaders.
Clea Caulcutt and Jamil Anderlini reported from Beijing. Stuart Lau reported from Brussels.
