2023-04-21 03:34:21
During a telephone exchange, Emmanuel Macron and Joe Biden “agreed on the importance of continuing to engage” China so that it contributes “in the medium term to the end of the conflict” in Ukraine, reported Thursday the French presidency. They have « reiterated their unwavering support for Ukraine in the face of Russia’s brutal aggression”. Emmanuel Macon also reaffirmed his desire to see the Europeans continue “to rearm to assume their responsibilities in sharing the burden of transatlantic security”, said the Elysée in a press release.
Paris believes that Beijing has “a role to play” in finding a resolution to Russia’s war in Ukraine for more than a year, due to its alliance with Moscow. In Beijing, Emmanuel Macron said he was counting on his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping to “bring Russia to its senses”. At the end of this visit, at the beginning of April, the Élysée had assured that Xi Jinping had said he was ready to work with France “to create the conditions for negotiations” between Moscow and kyiv.
“With respect for the sovereignty of Ukraine”
The “parameters” of this initiative must be defined within the framework of the Franco-Chinese strategic dialogue, piloted, on the one hand, by Emmanuel Bonne, diplomatic adviser to Emmanuel Macron, and on the other hand, by the senior Chinese diplomat Wang Yi, whose next session is scheduled for the summer, according to Paris.
“The President of the Republic said that such a negotiation should be done with respect for international law and the sovereignty of Ukraine. He said only the Ukrainians could decide. He encouraged China to play a constructive role, particularly given its status as a permanent member of the Security Council,” the Elysée recalled this week.
Resolve differences
The call represented an opportunity for Washington and Paris to iron out differences that arose in the wake of Emmanuel Macron’s trip to Beijing. The French president had caused a wave of misunderstanding by declaring that Europe should not automatically align itself with the United States or Beijing in the event of a conflict over Taiwan.
“The two presidents share the same desire to strengthen ongoing cooperation and support international law, including freedom of navigation, throughout the Indo-Pacific region,” said the Elysée, without directly citing Taiwan.
According to the French press release, Joe Biden and Emmanuel Macron “also discussed the extremely worrying situation in Sudan”.
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