French foreign minister visits China to discuss bilateral ties, Russia-Ukraine war

Europe, News November 25, 2023 , by IRIA No Comments

French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna arrived in Beijing on November 24, 2023, to discuss bilateral relations as well as economic, global security, and climate issues. During her visit, Colonna met with Chinese Premier Li Qiang and Foreign Minister Wang Yi.

France’s Foreign Minister Colonna’s meetings in Beijing underscored the efforts by both sides to continue dialogue despite their growing differences. Beijing and Europe are attempting to bridge the gaps on several matters including the Ukraine war, the Israel-Hamas war, and Europe’s huge trade deficit with China. The talks in some ways foreshadowed an EU-China leaders meeting next month.

Economic relations and climate change cooperation

In her meeting with the Chinese Premier, Colonna discussed a broad range of topics including rebalancing France’s economic relationship with the world’s second-largest economy. Her trip is centered on encouraging exchanges between citizens of both countries, which is threatened to be overshadowed by ongoing trade issues.

“We are committed to dialogue with China,” Colonna told Li, adding that she was “honored” and happy to see him after their Paris meeting in June. She said France and China should work together to address global issues such as climate change and biodiversity.

“As big powers, we both share the responsibility to tackle global challenges and we can make concerted efforts in alleviating tensions around the world,” she added.

Honorée d’être reçue par le Premier ministre Li Qiang, venu à Paris en juin pour le Sommet #NPFM.
Avec la #Chine nous travaillons pour trouver des réponses aux défis mondiaux #climat #biodiversité #dette et pour approfondir & rééquilibrer notre relation économique. pic.twitter.com/42jyfvo3hH
— Catherine Colonna (@MinColonna) November 24, 2023

“Next year will be the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and France, and both of us are sustaining our efforts in the hope that the 60th year will see a big development and a big breakthrough,” Li said.

“Under the strategic leadership of President Xi Jinping and President Macron, the relationship between China and France has been developing better and better in all aspects since this year,” he added.

Russia-Ukraine war

During her meeting with China’s top diplomat, Wang Yi, Colonna said that France is hoping Beijing will be “vigilant” against any Chinese support for Russia’s war in Ukraine.

After meeting with her Chinese counterpart, the French foreign minister said during a press conference in Beijing that “We are counting on the vigilance of the Chinese authorities so that no structure in China, contributes directly or indirectly to Russia’s illegal war effort.”

“On major crises, we want to cooperate with China to provide responses to the Russian war of aggression in Ukraine,” she said. “Cooperation with China is essential to foster a just and lasting peace, a peace consistent with international law,” she added.

China has refused to condemn Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and has deepened its economic, diplomatic, and military cooperation with Moscow since the start of the war in February 2022.

China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi with French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna — ^{Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi (right) and French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna attend a ceremony in Beijing to launch the 2024 China-France Culture and Tourism Year. (Image Credit Wang Zhuangfei/ChinaDaily/via Twitter)}

China-EU summit

French President Macron, who met with Xi in China earlier this year, has argued the EU should stop being naive and demand a level playing field with countries like China, and has been pushing the European Commission behind the scenes to launch the probe.

Colonna, who is also France’s Minister for EU Affairs, is visiting Beijing only a few days ahead of a major EU-China summit. European Commission and Council presidents, Ursula von der Leyen and Charles Michel are set to visit Beijing in December for the first in-person summit with President Xi Jinping in four years, after China-EU relations nosedived during the pandemic.