Photo: AFP_Xinhua_Li Xueren
Eurasia
01/03/2023 08:45
French President Emmanuel Macron said on Saturday that he would visit China in early April, with the Ukraine crisis high on the agenda, China Daily reported. Speaking a day after China issued a 12-point position paper on the political settlement of the issue, Macron said, "The fact that China is engaging in peace efforts is a good thing."
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President Charles Michel also might visit China in the first half of the year, with preparations already underway.
Fu Cong, head of the Chinese Mission to the European Union, who struck a very optimistic tone on the recovery of China-EU relations in a recent interview, said the two sides are expected to usher in frequent, high-level mutual visits very soon.
It was also reported that Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni will visit China this year.
The planned visits show that the Ukraine crisis should not affect the development of China-EU relations, Fu said, suggesting that the EU should avoid being too emotional in dealing with the issue.
The media spotlight has shone on China-EU ties recently. Senior diplomat Wang Yi just concluded his first visit of the year, which took him to France, Italy, Hungary and Russia, as well as Germany for the Munich Security Conference.
China and Europe should dispel external disruptions, properly manage differences and strengthen communication and cooperation when referring to the spillover effects of the Ukraine crisis, said Wang, director of the Office of the Foreign Affairs Commission of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, on Wednesday after wrapping up his tour.
During his trip, Wang repeatedly expressed China's willingness to seek friendship and expand cooperation, saying China and Europe are partners, not opponents, and constitute opportunities, not threats, for each other.
