仏大統領、訪中開始　ウクライナ情勢や貿易協議へ

【北京ＡＦＰ＝時事】フランスのエマニュエル・マクロン大統領が５日、中国訪問を開始した。ロシアのウクライナ侵攻に対する中国の支援をけん制するとともに、極めて重要な貿易相手国である中国との関係を強化する狙いがある。（写真は北京での会合に出席したマクロン仏大統領）
　マクロン氏は３日間の日程で訪中。６日には、習近平国家主席との会談が予定されている。
　これに先立ち北京で在中フランス人らとの会合に臨んだマクロン氏は、ウクライナにおける和平の道を見いだしていく上で中国には「大きな役割」があると述べ、ウクライナの「平和と安定に向けた共通の責任」を果たしていくため中国との連携を図っていく考えを示した。
　マクロン氏の訪中を前に大統領府高官が報道陣に明かしたところによると、同氏は習氏との会談で、ウクライナ情勢をめぐり毅然（きぜん）とした態度で臨む一方で、米国のように真っ向から対立する姿勢ではなく「別の道」を提示するという。
　マクロン氏はまた、欧中間の貿易関係の維持と再均衡のほか、アジア太平洋地域におけるフランスの国益の保障を重点に協議する。同域に海外領土や軍事基地を持つフランスは、同域への関与を強調している。
　米ホワイトハウスによると、マクロン氏は訪中前日にジョー・バイデン大統領と電話で会談し、訪中とウクライナ支援について協議した。
　仏外交筋によると、両首脳は中国に協力を仰ぐことで、より早く紛争の打開策を見つけたい考えで一致したとされる。
　マクロン氏は６日、習主席をはじめ政府高官と会談。夜には夕食会に出席する。翌７日には政治家や実業家、著名人から成る視察団と共に南部の広州を訪れ、現地の学生とも面会する予定。【翻訳編集ＡＦＰＢＢＮｅｗｓ】

〔ＡＦＰ＝時事〕（2023/04/05-21:39）

French President Emmanuel Macron said Wednesday that China had a major role to play in finding a path to peace in Ukraine, as he kicked off a three-day visit to Beijing.
Speaking at a gathering of the French community in Beijing ahead of a meeting with Chinese leader Xi Jinping on Thursday, Macron said France would seek to work with China in this shared responsibility for peace and stability in Ukraine.
China, with its close relationship with Russia, which has been reaffirmed in recent days, can play a major role, he said, noting Beijing's stated opposition to the use of nuclear weapons in Ukraine as well as its proposal for peace between Kyiv and Moscow.
The French president's first trip to China in four years is set to be dominated by the conflict in Ukraine, with an official from his office telling reporters he would seek to stand firm in talks with Xi.
Speaking to journalists after his remarks, Macron said: We have decided since the beginning of the conflict to help the victim, and we have also made it very clear that anyone helping the aggressor would be an accomplice in breach of international law.
The French leader's aims also include preserving and rebalancing China's trade ties with Europe, as well as safeguarding France's interests in the Asia-Pacific.
We must not disassociate ourselves, separate ourselves from China, Macron told Beijing's French community upon arrival, saying France would commit proactively to continue to have a commercial relationship with China.
Macron discussed his trip to China and support for Ukraine during a phone call with US President Joe Biden on the eve of his visit, the White House said.
The conversation showed the common will of France and the United States to engage the Chinese to accelerate with us the end of the war in Ukraine and build a lasting peace, Macron's office said.
- '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 3:15 pm (0715 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 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 EU decoupling from China.
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