French President Emmanuel Macron will pay a visit to China from April 5 to 7, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Beijing said on Monday, clarifying that European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen will also be in China during the same period. , Reuters and Agerpres report.

Chinese President Xi Jinping will hold talks with his French counterpart to determine the course of bilateral relations, deepen cooperation and exchange views on major issues, the Chinese ministry said.

Meanwhile, the European Commission said that Ursula von der Leyen and Emmanuel Macron will have a working lunch on Monday to prepare a joint trip to China.

European Commission spokesman Eric Mamer tweeted that the two European leaders would discuss topics such as Russia’s war in Ukraine, the energy sector and preparations for a visit to China, including a joint meeting with Xi Jinping.

Before the trip to Beijing, the President of the European Commission on Thursday asked to change relations with China.

“Defining the European strategy towards China (…) should start with a sober assessment of our current relations and China’s strategic intentions,” she said, stressing that the lack of contacts with Beijing “is not even sustainable – and not in the interests of Europe.”

A visit to China under the shadow of the war in Ukraine

Von der Leyen focused on the economic risks for the EU and how Europe should respond to them, and condemned “China’s policy of intimidation and economic and commercial coercion”.

As for the French president, last week he signaled that he would warn his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping about the consequences of a possible “fatal decision” to support Russia militarily against Ukraine.

“We want to avoid the worst, and that’s why we have to get involved, present our position to them,” Emmanuel Macron’s press secretary added to reporters.

According to the French president, this dialogue is even more important because “China is the only country in the world that is capable of having an immediate and radical impact on the conflict in one direction or another.”

The visit by Emmanuel Macron and Ursula von der Leyen will be the first trip by high-ranking European officials since Chinese President Xi Jinping’s visit to Moscow, which analysts saw as a signal of support for Russia in the war. against Ukraine.

However, China insists on its neutrality in this conflict and categorically denies that it will help Russia.