Macron Faces the Dragon

French President Emmanuel Macron is visiting China on April 5-8. The key event has been the summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping where the two leaders discussed the most pressing issues of international security and foreign policy.

However, political scientists allege that the meeting was more about doing business while international security was just a pretext. Macron brought a whole economic delegation with him, including Airbus executives and big deals were struck. In particular, Airbus received 160 plane orders from state-run China Aviation Supplies Holding Company.

The same seems to apply to other European leaders. Various analysts stress that EU politicians are angered with Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act which creates favorable conditions for American electric vehicle producers and gives them an upper hand in European markets. Macron even alleged that the Inflation Reduction Act threatens Europe with deindustrialization, prompting China to become a natural business partner for EU countries.

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Chinese officials prepare ahead of President Emmanuel Macron's arrival at Beijing Capital International Airport.

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Chinese guard of honour stand ready to greet French President Emmanuel Macron in Beijing.

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Guards keep a curtain closed prior to a meeting between Chinese Premier Li Qiang and French President Emmanuel Macron at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing.

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Chinese Premier Li Qiang (R) shakes hands with French President Emmanuel Macron prior to their meeting at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing.

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French President Emmanuel Macron attends a meeting with Chinese Premier Li Qiang at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing.

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French President Emmanuel Macron (C) attends a meeting with Chinese Premier Li Qiang at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. Li Qiang said that Macron is the first foreign leader to visit Xi after reelection and stressed that this marks the importance of China-France relations.

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French president Emmanuel Macron (C) visits the expo of the Red Bricks museum with French Culture Minister Rima Abdul Malak and Chinese artists in Beijing.

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(L-R) Actress Gong Li, artist Jean Michel Jarre, expert Patrice Fava and French President Emmanuel Macron visit the expo of the Red Brick Museum in Beijing.

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French President Emmanuel Macron (2nd-L) visits the Red Brick Museum in Beijing . Red Bricks Museum was opened in 2014 as a hub for modern art.

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China’s President Xi Jinping (L) shakes hands with his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron as they attend the official welcoming ceremony in Beijing.

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China’s President Xi Jinping (L) and his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron attend the official welcoming ceremony in Beijing.

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China's National People's Congress Chairman Zhao Leji (3rd R) attends a meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron (3rd L) at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing.