Xi Jinping, Emmanuel Macron
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French President Emmanuel Macron appealed to Xi Jinping to help end the war in Ukraine and to tackle trade deficits as the two leaders met in Beijing.
French President Emmanuel Macron met Chinese leader Xi Jinping in Beijing on Thursday, seeking stronger commercial ties, as the European Union prepares to toughen up its trade rules.
In a briefing last week, Macron’s advisers said the French leader believes China must “consume more and export less.” The call comes as Europe faces an unprecedented surge in Chinese industrial exports. Between May 2024 and May 2025, Chinese exports to the EU rose 12% – including 24% to France and 21.5% to Germany.