French Community

Macron earlier told the French community in Beijing that he does not believe in an “irresistible spiral” dragging down China’s relations with the West, and defended as essential dialogue with Beijing over the war in Ukraine.

In the French embassy's gardens, where Macron addressed the French community on Wednesday evening, the president's rejection of what he called an "inescapable spiral" of tension that would lead to cutting off ties with China was broadly welcomed.

Addressing a gathering of the French community in Beijing, Mr. Macron insisted that the differences over political systems that make Europe and China “rivals” should not lead to the “decoupling” and “escalating tensions” that some regard as inevitable.

Macron, who last traveled to China in 2019 before the COVID-19 crisis, is to start his trip Wednesday in Beijing with a speech to the French community.

“We want the French language to be a language for all and therefore give a fresh image of the French in the United States,” Macron said Wednesday in a speech to the French community in Washington D.C.