Macron walked Xi Jinping through the Pyrenees mountains, the place where he grew up. The discussion for which the French leader violated the protocol

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Luxury dinner at the Élysée Palace. Chinese President Xi Jinping he was received with fanfare and a red carpet by his French counterpart. The event was attended by over a hundred prominent personalities from France. Emmanuel Macron walked the Chinese president through the Pyrenees mountains, the place where he grew up, hoping to convince him not to help Putin in the war in Ukraine.

By the Observator editorial team on 05.07.2024, 21:44

Emmanuel Macron, President of France: I raise the glass in your honor and in honor of the Chinese people. And, above all, Mr. President, Madam, for a new cycle of 60 years of friendship that is opening between the two countries.

More than 120 personalities participated in the sumptuous dinner. Legendary French artists such as Mireille Mathieu, Jean Michel Jarre, Luc Besson were not absent. Actress Salma Hayek attracted the eyes of journalists like a magnet. The star came with her husband, the billionaire Francois-Henri Pinault, the president of the Kering group, owner of several luxury brands.

The two heads of state exchanged gifts

The two heads of state exchanged gifts. Emmanuel Macron offered his Chinese counterpart cognac and thanked him for not imposing customs duties on the French product, in response to measures announced by the EU, and pleaded for trade rules in the interest of both sides. The head of state from the Elysee received from Xi the Chinese translations of the great French works.

Xi Jinping, President of China: These are the books I want to give you. They are Chinese translations of French novels. Year 93. Madame Bovary. Red and Black. Old Man Girot. The Lady with the Camels. The three Musketeers.

In a surprise move today, aides to the French president said he had decided to break protocol for a chance to hold face-to-face talks with Xi. The Chinese presidential couple was put on a plane and driven to the Pyrenees, where Emmanuel Macron walked them through the places where he grew up. On top of the mountain, in a heavy rain and at almost 0 degrees Celsius, the Chinese president watched folk dances to traditional music.

Which countries will Xi Jinping visit?

Macron thus hopes to persuade him to stop supporting Russia in military conflicts. Xi Jinping will continue his first visit to Europe in the last 5 years to Serbia and Hungary, countries with leaders considered close to Putin. In Belgrade, the big boulevards have already been decorated with the flags of the two countries. Last year, China was Serbia’s second largest trading partner after the European Union.