Xi To Macron: 'Europe Is Independent Pole In Multipolar World'

MNI (London) - More comments from Presidents Xi Jinping and Emmanuel Macron come as part of the latter's state visit to China. The two are currently holding bilateral talks ahead of tripartite discussions also involving European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. Xi: 'We are working on an open world...Europe is an independent pole in a multipolar world and China supports its strategic autonomy.'

• Macron has previously spoken about 'strategic autonomy' for the EU (being less tied to US foreign policy stances), although this has receded somewhat since the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Meanwhile Xi has frequently mentioned a shift to a 'multipolar' international order, i.e. one in which the United States is not seen as the sole global superpower.
• Xi: 'France and China urge the international community to avoid escalation of [Ukraine] crisis...Call on all countries to respect nuclear non-proliferation...[France and China] wants international security architecture.'
• Xi on the war in Ukraine: Hopes peace talks restart as soon as possible, and a political solution and a balanced, effective and sustainable European security framework can be found.'
• Macron says he will discuss North Korea and Iran with Xi, that Xi had 'important words' on Ukraine. Says that 'European security architecture is not possible as long as Ukraine is occupied.
• Macron says that 'Human rights issue still an important issue for France....it's better to be respectful than to lecture.'