Beijing: French President Emmanuel Macron
will visit China for three days starting January 8, the
Chinese foreign ministry said today, after the young leader
declared the need for a stronger Europe to "face China".
This will be Macron's first state visit to the country,
and the first by a European Union nation leader since the
ruling Communist Party's 19th national congress in October.
President Xi Jinping secured a second five-year term as
the head of the party at the twice-a-decade political meeting,
becoming the most powerful Chinese leader in years.
News of the trip comes after Macron, 40, who campaigned
on a pro-globalisation platform, called on France and all of
Europe to return to its former glory during a televised New
Year's address Sunday.
"We need to... be a more sovereign, more united, more
democratic Europe," he said.
"I deeply believe Europe can become that economic,
social, environmentally-friendly, scientific power that will
be able to face China and the United States."
Chinese President Xi Jinping is likewise pursuing the
"great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation".
As leaders of two permanent UN Security Council member
states, Macron and Xi are expected to discuss the Syrian
crisis and North Korea's nuclear programme.
The two have met just once before, at the G20 summit in
Hamburg last July.
"We hope that (Macron's) visit will help enhance
political mutual trust and strategic communication between the
two sides," Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Geng Shuang
said during a regular press briefing today.
