Reference News Network, December 6 report: On December 4, the American Consumer News and Business Channel website published an article titled "Ukraine, Trade, Giant Pandas: What Did Xi Jinping and Macron Discuss in Beijing?" by Anique Bao (translated). The article is translated as follows:

On the 4th, Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing told visiting French President Macron, who was on a state visit to China, that China is willing to import more high-quality French products, and also hopes that France will provide enterprises from China with a fair environment and stable expectations.

According to a statement from the French government, Macron said he welcomed China's willingness to facilitate access for French products, especially agricultural products, into the Chinese market.

The French president hopes to establish a framework between China and France to increase direct investment from China into Europe, especially France, thus creating more job opportunities.

Xi Jinping called for consolidating cooperation in traditional areas such as aviation, aerospace, and nuclear energy between China and France, and to explore cooperation potential in areas such as green economy, digital economy, biomedicine, artificial intelligence, and new energy.

After the meeting, the two heads of state jointly witnessed the signing of multiple cooperation documents in areas such as nuclear energy, agriculture and food, education, and ecological environment.

After the formal meeting held in Beijing on the 4th, the two leaders will go to Chengdu, a city in southwestern China, which is home to the Chengdu Research Base for the Breeding of Giant Pandas. Last month, France returned a pair of giant pandas that had been on loan for 13 years to Chengdu.

France hopes to have new giant pandas sent to France. When Xi Jinping met with Macron in Beijing, he stated that efforts should be made to promote cultural and people-to-people exchanges between China and France. He said that the two countries will carry out a new round of giant panda conservation cooperation.

Daniel Balaz, a researcher at the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies in Singapore, analyzed Macron's visit to China, stating that Macron's actions in China reflect Paris's ambition "to become a stable force in EU-China relations." He pointed out that the broader goal of the EU is to maintain a constructive relationship with China even when friction occurs repeatedly.

Balaz also said, "Maintaining good relations with France can ensure that when decisions are made in Brussels that concern China's interests, China has friends within the EU."

One of the key goals of Macron's visit is to address what he calls the "global imbalance."

Luke H. R. Leung, senior research fellow for foreign policy at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in New York, believes that Macron wants to explain his proposal for establishing an equal partnership to the Chinese side. This includes opening up a broader Chinese market to European companies and possibly paving the way for some China-Europe joint ventures in Europe.

The two heads of state exchanged views on the Ukraine crisis. Xi Jinping pointed out that China will "continue to play a constructive role in the political resolution of the crisis in its own way," and "support European countries to play their due role and promote the construction of a balanced, effective, and sustainable European security architecture."

Europe has long expected China to use its influence to help end the Russia-Ukraine conflict.

Leung said that this visit provides France with a rare opportunity to convey Paris's position on the Ukraine issue to the Chinese leadership.

Original: toutiao.com/article/7580564217666552372/

Statement: The article represents the views of the author.