BACK ME! Macron demands ‘coordinated European approach’ in China trade bid

The French President wants to improve diplomatic and trade relations with China, the world’s second largest economy. 

The Chinese President Xi Jinping and President Macron will be signing business deals worth billions of dollars for better trade ties. 

The two leaders signed deals in the nuclear, aviation and sectors on the second day of the state visit. 

Mr Macron said European counties had in the past come to China with different agendas and he wanted to discuss the EU’s agenda with Xi.

He said: “We need a coordinated European approach that gives China more visibility about our agenda.” 

The European planemaker Airbus also said they planned to boost the number of aircraft they assemble in China. 

President Macron was given a tour of Beijing’s Forbidden City on Tuesday before a day of business deals with the Chinese leader Mr Jinping. 

Mr Macron said: “We are at a crucial point in the world” and Xi said the two countries would “work hand-in-hand” and hold more high level talks on trade.

The president came to China with 50 business leaders and gave Xi a horse from the Republican Guard as a gift. 

During the state visit, the Chinese online retailer JD.com announced plans to sell French goods worth £1.8 billion to Chinese consumers over the next two years. 

The French President has also released a video of him saying “make the planet great again” in Mandarin. 

The US President Donald Trump visited Beijing in November when he was given a lavish welcome. 

President Macron has said he would visit China every year of his five-year presidency.