French President Emmanuel Macron has urged Europe to take part in China's Silk Road revival plan, despite some European misgivings about the massive project, as he begins a state visit.
He also called on Europe and China yesterday to team up on curbing climate change, in the face of US plans to withdraw from the Paris accord.
"Our destinies are linked," Macron said in Xian, the starting point of the ancient Silk Road.
"The future needs France, Europe and China," he said, adding he would travel to China "at least once a year."
Macron began his three-day visit in Xian as a gesture to President Xi Jinping's One Belt, One Road project, an initiative to connect Asia and Europe by road, rail and sea.
The US$1 trillion (HK$7.8 trillion) infrastructure program is billed as a modern revival of the ancient Silk Road that once carried fabrics, spices and a wealth of other goods in both directions.
The project has elicited both interest and anxiety, with some in Europe seeing it as Chinese expansionism.
While France had been cautious about the plan, Macron heartily endorsed the initiative.
"It represents a real opportunity to create bridges, through exchange, between countries and civilizations, just as the ancient silk routes once did," he said.
"I think it's very important that Europe and China strengthen their collaboration on the initiative. France is ready to play a leading role in this."
But Macron warned that it should be carried out "within the framework of a balanced partnership" - a reference to concerns about China's trade surpluses.
AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE
