Europe looking to China as global partner, shunning Donald Trump’s US

Macron portrayed himself as envoy for EU during China visit, conveying message that bloc has largely given up on US president

Washington increasingly isolated on climate change, role of World Trade Organisation and nuclear accord with Iran, as EU and Beijing align

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China’s President Xi Jinping (right) and French President Emmanuel Macron (left) taste wine as they visit France's pavilion during the China International Import Expo in Shanghai on Tuesday. Photo: AFP

Published: 6:09am, 7 Nov 2019Updated: 1:33pm, 11 Nov 2019

When France’s president wants to carry European concerns to the world stage to find solutions for climate change, trade tensions or Iran’s nuclear ambitions, he no longer calls Washington. He flies to Beijing.

President Emmanuel Macron’s visit to China this week suggests that the United States risks being sidelined on the global stage under President Donald Trump. One moment spoke volumes: Chinese President Xi Jinping sampling French wines, which Trump’s administration recently slapped with heavy new tariffs.

Macron portrayed himself as an envoy for the whole European Union, conveying the message that the bloc has largely given up on Trump, who does not hide his disdain for multilateralism.

Just as the Trump administration formally launched the process of pulling out of the 2015 Paris climate agreement, France and China issued a “Beijing call” on Wednesday for increased global cooperation in fighting climate change and better protecting biodiversity. Both countries have deplored the US withdrawal.

“One country’s isolated choice can’t change the course of the world. It only leads to marginalisation,” Macron said.