'Counting' On China To 'Bring Russia To Its Senses': French Prez Macron After Meeting Xi Jinping

French President Emmanuel Macron met Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing on Thursday.

French President Emmanuel Macron met Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing on Thursday.

French President Emmanuel Macron met Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing on Thursday and said he was "counting" on China to "bring Russia to its senses" amid its war with Ukraine, as reported by the news agency AFP.

"I am convinced that China has a major role to play in building peace. This is what I have come to discuss, to move forward on. With President XI Jinping, we will also talk about our businesses, the climate and biodiversity, and food security," tweets French President Emmanuel Macron after meeting his Chinese counterpart.

French President Emmanuel Macron meets Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing: AFP

(file photos) pic.twitter.com/JY8q5hfu70

— ANI (@ANI) April 6, 2023

Earlier on Wednesday, Macron said that he wants to “engage China toward a shared responsibility for peace” in Ukraine, as reported by AP. French officials said earlier that Macron planned to urge Xi in talks Thursday to use Beijing’s influence with Russian President Vladimir Putin, but didn’t expect a big shift in the Chinese position.

Macron is accompanied by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen in a show of European unity in dealings with Beijing. Xi and Putin declared their governments had a “no limits friendship” before Moscow’s February 2022 attack on Ukraine.

Beijing has refused to criticize the Kremlin but has tried to appear neutral and has called for a cease-fire and peace talks. In a speech to French residents of China, Macron said he would “try to build, and somehow engage China toward a shared responsibility for peace and stability on international issues” including Ukraine, Iran and North Korea, AP reported.

Macron expressed hope China will “participate in initiatives that are useful to the Ukrainian people.” “Dialogue with China is indispensable,” Macron said during the event at the French Embassy, as quoted by AP The Chinese government sees Russia as a source of energy and as a partner in opposing what both say is U.S. domination of global affairs.