Macron responded that foreign companies in the Chinese market should come with fair competition conditions – echoing the several EU companies and countries that have often complained about China’s opaque law on foreign companies.
Xi’s ‘tempting’ words come as China faces an anti-subsidy investigation launched by the European Commission on 4 October, looking into whether China is involved in an alleged illegal subsidisation scheme.
In the call, Macron also expressed “deep concerns” about the Russian-North-Korean military cooperation, which he said could have an impact on Russia’s war in Ukraine.
Macron also called on China to maintain relations with the Ukrainian authorities, despite China’s refusal to condemn Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and despite Russia’s withdrawal from two arms treaties, the reiteration of its readiness to use nuclear weapons and its nuclear test in November.