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China praises Ukraine mediator Macron as Beijing hopes to renew EU ties
- In a call with the French president’s diplomatic counsellor, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi says mediation efforts are appreciated
- The comments come as Brussels and Beijing hold high-level trade talks
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China has called on France to help get its ties with Europe on a healthy track, with Foreign Minister Wang Yi affirming President Emmanuel Macron’s role as a mediator on the war in Ukraine.
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In a phone call with Macron’s diplomatic counsellor Emmanuel Bonne on Monday, Wang said China’s relations with France had been boosted by the president’s re-election in April.
Relations between China and the EU have been overshadowed by a series of disputes on a number of issues, including alleged human rights violations in Xinjiang and Hong Kong, the EU’s closer ties with Taiwan – regarded by Beijing as a breakaway province – and China-US rivalry in the region.
But Brussels and Beijing have maintained a dialogue, with high-level trade talks between the two sides taking place on Tuesday.
In his phone call with Bonne, Wang said relations between China and France had made a good start following Macron’s re-election.
“China is willing to work with France to push for a more energetic development for the China-France comprehensive strategic partnership,” Wang said, according to a Chinese foreign ministry statement.
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“As one of the major nations of the EU, China hopes France can play a positive role in facilitating the healthy development of China-EU relations.”
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