Global Affairs

Europe's new realism towards China

Tomorrow, French President Emmanuel Macron hosts Chinese President Xi Jinping, who is in Paris for talks. He invited German and European Commission leaders along, in a sign of European unity in dealing with China.

New: Gift this subscriber-only story to your friends and family

LONDON • A bit of history will be made tomorrow when French President Emmanuel Macron hosts in Paris a visit by Mr Xi Jinping, his Chinese counterpart.

For instead of conducting this encounter as a purely Franco-Chinese, bilateral affair - as most other nations would do - Mr Macron invited both Germany's Chancellor Angela Merkel and Mr Jean-Claude Juncker, the president of the European Union Commission, the EU's executive body, to be present during Mr Xi's Paris visit and take part in the discussions.

Already a subscriber? 

Read the full story and more at $9.90/month

Get exclusive reports and insights with more than 500 subscriber-only articles every month

Unlock these benefits

  • All subscriber-only content on ST app and straitstimes.com

  • Easy access any time via ST app on 1 mobile device

  • E-paper with 2-week archive so you won't miss out on content that matters to you

Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.

A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Straits Times on March 25, 2019, with the headline Europe's new realism towards China. Subscribe