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Macron Visits Beijing to Press China on Ukraine Ceasefire and Trade

French President Emmanuel Macron arrives in Beijing for a three-day state visit to press China to use its influence over Russia to help secure a ceasefire in Ukraine and to address deepening trade imbalances with the EU. He will meet Xi Jinping and Premier Li Qiang, then travel to Chengdu where two loaned pandas were recently returned. Macron aims to push China to avoid providing material support to Russia while reopening economic talks to rebalance bilateral trade.

04:29 PM, 12/03/2025Politics
Macron Visits Beijing to Press China on Ukraine Ceasefire and Trade

French President Emmanuel Macron arrives in Beijing for a three-day state visit aimed at pressing Chinese leaders to use their influence to help secure a ceasefire in Ukraine and to discuss strained trade ties between the European Union and China.

Ceasefire and diplomacy

Macron is scheduled to meet President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Qiang at the Great Hall of the People before traveling to Chengdu. Ending the nearly four-year war in Ukraine is expected to be a central topic. French officials have urged Beijing to "lean on Russia" to push President Vladimir Putin toward a ceasefire, with Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot saying China could play a "crucial role" in guiding Russia toward the right decision.

"We are counting on China, like us a permanent member of the Security Council... to lean on Russia, so that Russia and, in particular, Vladimir Putin can finally agree to a ceasefire," — Jean-Noël Barrot.

Beijing has repeatedly called for peace talks and respect for territorial integrity but has not formally condemned Russia's 2022 invasion. Western governments have accused China of providing economic support to Russia, including components used by the Russian defence industry. France's presidency says Macron will press China to "refrain from providing any means, by any means, to Russia to continue the war."

Trade and economic tensions

Trade is another major focus. The EU faces a substantial trade deficit with China—estimated at about $357 billion—and Macron is expected to raise concerns about market imbalances. An adviser to the president said China should "consume more and export less," while Europeans should "produce more." These conversations reflect broader European efforts to rebalance economic ties and limit strategic dependencies.

Visit itinerary and symbolism

Macron, accompanied by his wife Brigitte, will conclude the visit in Chengdu, where two giant pandas loaned to France were recently returned to China. The Chengdu stop was described by the French presidency as "quite exceptional in Chinese protocol," an honor Macron welcomed. During his previous trip to China, he received an enthusiastic reception at a university in Guangzhou, with students seeking selfies and high-fives.

The visit follows a trip to Paris by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who urged European unity as proposals to end the war—some backed by U.S. political figures—raise concerns in Kyiv and European capitals about potential pressure on Ukraine to make territorial concessions. Macron's objective is to combine diplomatic pressure and economic dialogue to reduce the risk of a prolonged conflict and to secure greater stability in EU-China relations.

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