French President Emmanuel Macron arrived in China on 3/12 for a three-day visit, his fourth to the nation. The trip serves as an opportunity to strengthen bilateral relations, bolster support for a ceasefire in Ukraine, and attract further investment from Beijing.

French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife, and Chinese President Xi Jinping and his wife in Beijing on 4/12. *Photo: Xinhua*

Chinese President Xi Jinping and his wife Peng Liyuan welcomed President Macron and First Lady Brigitte at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on 4/12. Following the welcome ceremony, the two leaders held talks. Macron emphasized the need for both nations to overcome "differences" for common interests, a sentiment echoed by Xi, who called for a more stable relationship.

During their discussions, Macron stressed the necessity of continued global efforts towards peace and stability, particularly in conflict-affected regions like Ukraine. He deemed cooperation between France and China a "decisive factor" in resolving the conflict.

Xi responded that, "China supports all efforts towards peace and hopes that all parties will reach a fair, lasting, and binding peace agreement, acceptable to all sides".

Last year, China proposed a "peace formula" for the Ukraine conflict. Its key points included: calling for a ceasefire, resuming peace talks, avoiding nuclear risks, reducing the crisis's impact on the global economy, and addressing humanitarian issues.

However, China's initiative did not receive widespread support. France, a key supporter of Ukraine, is actively working to encourage relevant nations to back a "fair, sustainable" peace agreement for Kyiv, in contrast to reports that the US prefers Ukraine to accept a peace proposal with several territorial disadvantages.

Ngoc Anh (According to AFP)