Emmanuel Macron began his fourth official visit to China today, against the backdrop of rising tensions with Beijing — from the war in Ukraine to major trade imbalances in favor of the Asian giant.

Macron’s aircraft landed in Beijing shortly after 5 p.m. local time. He will meet Chinese President Xi Jinping tomorrow, Thursday, at the Great Hall of the People. The two leaders will then meet again on Friday in Chengdu, in Sichuan province (southwest), for a more informal exchange.

Macron, accompanied by his wife Brigitte, was welcomed by Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi.

“Thank you very much for being here this evening and for all the work we will do together,” the Chinese host said.

A private program awaits the French president in the capital, including a visit to the newly restored “Garden of Emperor Qianlong” in the Forbidden City, followed by a dinner.

Macron is traveling with six ministers — Foreign Affairs, Economy, Agriculture, Environment, Higher Education, Culture — and 35 corporate leaders from major groups such as Airbus, EDF, and Danone, as well as owners of family-run luxury and agri-food businesses.

“We want — and this will be the focus of the strategic dialogue with President Xi Jinping — Europe to be respected as a major partner of China,” the Élysée Palace stressed before the visit.

Top on the agenda: the war in Ukraine and the security of the European continent, as Russian President Vladimir Putin reiterated yesterday the territorial demands he considers essential for any peace agreement.

Macron will again urge Xi Jinping to use his “influence” over Russia — China’s strategic partner — to “persuade” Moscow to agree to a ceasefire.

Although China frequently calls for peace negotiations, it has never condemned Russia for the invasion of Ukraine and opposes sanctions against Moscow.

China continues to buy Russian hydrocarbons, while the European Union agreed today to ban imports of Russian gas in the autumn of 2027, in an effort to deprive Moscow of revenue used to finance the war in Ukraine.