Friday 23 / May / 2025
Muscat: The EU and China have committed to preserving multilateralism and international cooperation in what has been seen as a clear rejection of populist politics.
French President Emmanuel Macron hosted Chinese President Xi Jinping, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker in Paris for talks.
Macron said about the the Chinese leader's time in France, "This visit will strengthen our strategic partnership and affirm the role of France, Europe and China in favour of a strong multilateralism."
Macron stated that the relationship between both sides was essential in promoting international cooperation, "especially in the context that we are experiencing and an unprecedented crisis in our recent history."
Xi added, "China hopes to strengthen coordination with France to safeguard mulitlateralism and uphold the basic norms governing international relations."
Juncker echoed Xi's statement, saying, "Europe, united, wants a deep partnership with China, based on reciprocity, and is committed to fair and effective multilateralism."
German Chancellor Merkel announced that a full summit would be held in September involving all EU member states and China.
On the importance of international cooperation in resolving conflicts, Merkel declared, "That does not mean that our views are always the same, but it does mean that there is a climate within which we are convinced that every actor takes into account the interests of the other side too, rather than focusing exclusively on their own interests."
The Chancellor underscored the special importance of the 'trilateral constellation' of EU, US and China and said, "There can be no multilateralism without the United States of America."
Paris was the last stop on Xi's recent tour of Europe, which included visits to Italy and Monaco. Billions of dollars worth of deals were announced during his time in France, including an agreement by Airbus to sell 300 planes to China.
