French President Emmanuel Macron and Chinese leader Xi Jinping ventured into the Pyrenees Mountains on Tuesday as part of a state visit. The place was a special one for the French president, as he spent his childhood holidays there.
Xi Jingping in the places where Macron spent his holidays
The leaders sought a more intimate space to discuss the war in Ukraine and other sensitive topics, such as trade disagreements, AFP reports.
During the reception in Paris, Macron highlighted the importance of “our French mountains” and expressed the hope that they will continue to be a source of inspiration. He anticipated friendly and productive discussions in the Hautes-Pyrénées region in southwestern France.
The two leaders, together with their wives, reached the Tourmalet Pass on Tuesday afternoon, an iconic place associated with the Tour de France, even though the weather conditions were cold and wintry with snow, although the ski season at La Mongie resort had already ended .
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Under their black umbrellas, dancers in traditional costumes gave a joyful show, accompanied by songs played on the whistle and accordion, welcoming the two leaders with big smiles.
Unique meeting between Macron and Xi Jingping
While Peng Liyuan, Xi Jinping’s wife, set the pace, Macron wanted a photo as a souvenir and presented his counterpart with Pyrenean wool blankets, a bottle of Armagnac, berets and a yellow Tour de France T-shirt.
“I know you like sports (…). We would be delighted to have Chinese riders in the Tour (of France)”said the French president, who received his counterpart in France for the first time since 2019.
Talks continued over a dinner in a high-altitude restaurant, where Macron encouraged Xi to send Chinese cyclists to the Tour de France, while the Chinese leader pledged to support local products such as ham and expressed his pleasure for cheeses.
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This escapade in the Pyrenees represented a replica of the traditional tea ceremony organized by Xi Jinping last year in Canton, countering the solemn atmosphere of the Elysée Palace.
Also, the trade differences between the EU and China were discussed in a more formal way. Macron emphasized the need for a “framework of fair competition”, highlighting at the same time his success in protecting French cognac from possible Chinese customs duties.
Tags: Unique experience Jingping Pyrenees Emmanuel Macron place spent vacation grandparents experience French traditions
