The president of the European Commission has called on Beijing to play a “constructive” role in bringing peace to Ukraine as she prepares for a joint visit to China with France’s Emmanuel Macron.
Ursula von der Leyen told the Financial Times in an interview the bloc was “concerned by [China’s] position of friendship with Russia” but said Beijing should use its ties with Moscow to rein in the Kremlin’s war, which began just over a year ago.
“China is in a position to influence Russia in a constructive way, and therefore they have a responsibility,” the commission chief said. “You cannot be in between — you cannot be for half of the international order.”
Von der Leyen emphasised that while President Xi Jinping visited Moscow last month, he has not made a phone call to Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
“If there is a single country that can lead Moscow to change its calculations, it is China,” said an Elysée official ahead of Macron’s three-day state visit to the country.
Macron will be accompanied by von der Leyen, who last week warned in a speech that how Beijing interacts with Vladimir Putin’s war will be a “determining factor” for the future of the relationship between China and the EU.
The French official also emphasised China’s unique capacity to “have a game-changing effect on the conflict” but added that it could help or harm depending on its choices.
The official said Macron was convinced that it was important for France to re-engage with China and make the bilateral relationship “more predictable”. But the official acknowledged broader geopolitical tensions that were “very complex and difficult” to navigate.
Paris said Macron would have “around six or seven hours” of meetings with Xi on a trip that will start on Wednesday in Beijing and finish in Guangzhou.
He will be accompanied by finance minister Bruno Le Maire and foreign minister Catherine Colonna, with business leaders from about 50 companies including nuclear energy group EDF and water and waste group Veolia. Airbus will also be in the delegation, and a contract for new jets is being negotiated, the Elysée said.
The presence of corporate representatives highlights the importance to Europe of its sprawling trade relationship with China.
The high-profile trip also marks a further bid by Macron to play a central role in diplomatic initiatives concerning the war, similar to his efforts in the run-up to the Russian invasion, when he held frequent calls with Putin and Zelenskyy.
Ahead of the visit, French and Chinese officials were still discussing issues where they might be able to forge consensus, such as help for the civilian population.
China wants to revive discussions over the EU-China Comprehensive Agreement on Investment, a trade deal that was not ratified and has stalled since 2021. The European parliament put ratification of the agreement on ice after China imposed sanctions on lawmakers in retaliation for asset bans and travel freezes imposed by the west.
Von der Leyen also stressed the importance of maintaining open diplomatic channels with Beijing, while adding that the war marked a “watershed moment” for the union as it seeks to defend the international order.
The commission president wants to “de-risk” relations with Beijing in some areas, rather than adopt the US stance of a wholesale decoupling from China.
Fu Cong, the Chinese ambassador to the EU, last week told the FT that he was optimistic von der Leyen’s visit would foster concrete results, including on the immobilised investment agreement. He said he saw “strong forces” in favour of ratifying it, but also others working feverishly against the process.
The trip by the EU leaders contrasts with the decision of US secretary of state Antony Blinken to cancel a visit to China in February. It follows previous visits by German chancellor Olaf Scholz, who travelled to Beijing in November, and Spanish prime minister Pedro Sánchez, who went last week.
