“COMMON AGENDA”
The US and French presidents also hope to “obtain from the Chinese a contribution to the global effort of North-South solidarity” and to build “a common agenda” on climate and biodiversity.
Macron landed in Beijing at around 3.15pm (7.15am GMT) and, after emerging into the capital’s brisk spring air below overcast skies, was greeted on the tarmac by Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang as soldiers watched on.
He will hold talks on Thursday with Xi and other Chinese leaders and attend a state dinner in the evening.
On Friday, he will travel to Guangzhou in southern China to meet local students, taking with him a broad delegation of top politicians, business leaders and even celebrities, including composer Jean-Michel Jarre.
Macron’s visit coincides with a flashpoint meeting between Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen and US House Speaker Kevin McCarthy in California on Wednesday.
Beijing has said that it would “closely monitor the situation and firmly defend national sovereignty and territorial integrity”, and warned McCarthy that he would be “playing with fire” by meeting Tsai.
China claims democratic Taiwan as part of its territory to be taken one day, by force if necessary.
Also visiting Beijing this week is European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen, who met Macron in Paris on Monday to coordinate preparations.
In a speech last week, Von der Leyen cautioned Beijing against direct support for the war in Ukraine, while ruling out the European Union “decoupling” from China.