French President Emmanuel Macron arrived in China on 3 December for a three-day visit, reports France24.
During the visit, Macron is expected to press Chinese leader Xi Jinping to influence Russia toward achieving a ceasefire in Ukraine. The French president will also meet with Chinese Premier Li Qiang before traveling to Chengdu, where two giant pandas were recently returned from France.
Macron's fourth state visit to China will also focus on trade issues.
"We are counting on China, which like us is a permanent member of the UN Security Council, to put pressure on Russia so that Russia and, in particular, Putin finally agree to a ceasefire," French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot stated.
The French presidential administration said Macron will tell Xi that China must "refrain from providing Russia with any means, by any methods, to continue the war."
The three-day visit follows President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's trip to Paris this week.
German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul will also visit China in early December after his recent trip was cancelled, according to recent reports.
