French President: Europe needs China to address global security challenges
(Baonghean.vn) - French President Emmanuel Macron said on May 5 that European countries need China to solve global issues, including global security and climate change.
“We need China, whether it is on climate or security issues,” Mr. Macron said in an interview with La Tribune newspaper. “The role of France and Europe is to be a balancing force that allows us to bring China into the international discussion on these important issues.”
President Macron spoke in favor of strengthening European sovereignty while maintaining cooperation with China. “I am not proposing to separate ourselves from China,” Mr. Macron stressed. “However, I believe that we must better protect our national security and sovereignty.”
According to Mr. Macron, Europe should “look at things realistically and defend its interests.”
Chinese President Xi Jinping arrives in Paris on Sunday for a state visit. Before officially welcoming the Chinese leader, there will be a three-way meeting with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, according to President Macron. “(German) Chancellor Olaf Scholz will not be able to attend, but we coordinated our efforts at the meeting last Thursday,” Mr. Macron said.
President Xi Jinping will stay in France until May 7. During the visit, the Chinese and French leaders will discuss the conflict in Ukraine, the situation in the Middle East, as well as trade and cooperation to tackle global climate change.
In the same interview, President Macron affirmed that dialogue with Russia must be maintained. “We are doing the right thing by leaving the door open to negotiations with Russia,” Mr. Macron said. “Otherwise, we would be abandoning the international order, peace and security.” However, Mr. Macron noted that it is necessary to continue the policy of “strategic ambiguity” regarding Russia.
In late April, Mr. Macron said at the Sorbonne University in Paris that Europe needed to be ready to build relations with Russia after the Ukraine conflict ended.
Mr. Macron also said that the technical capabilities and range of Russia's ballistic missiles were posing a danger to European countries.
“If we talk about Ukraine, the security of Europeans is at stake because it is located 1,500 kilometers from our borders. If Russia wins, it will take only one second to not be able to guarantee the security of Romania, Poland, Lithuania or our country,” Macron noted. “The power and range of Russian ballistic missiles endanger us all,” the French president added.
Russian President Dmitry Peskov's spokesman previously stated that Russia does not pose any threat to anyone in Europe and hopes to have a similar attitude towards Moscow./.
