Macron arrives in China ahead of Xi meeting

Beijing, Apr 5 (EFE).- French president Emmanuel Macron on Wednesday touched down in Beijing ahead of a meeting this week with Chinese leader Xi Jinping and the head of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen to discuss the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

First up on Macron’s agenda is a speech at the French embassy and an inauguration ceremony for a Sino-French cultural festival.

The leader, who is facing opposition at home over a controversial pension reform, will on Thursday meet with Xi alongside von der Leyen. Both are also set to hold bilateral talks with the Chinese president and premier Li Qiang.

This trip marks the second trip to Beijing by a European leader since Xi met with Russia’s president Vladimir Putin in Moscow last month. Spain’s prime minister Pedro Sánchez was the first.

Macron and von der Leyen are due to hear China’s proposed peace plan for Ukraine and its position on Russia’s invasion. EFE

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