Try GOLD - Free
Macron's China visit, Putin's India trip will show Europe no longer sets the agenda
The Straits Times
|December 04, 2025
Both are likely to return home empty-handed when it comes to trade and Ukraine war
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi receiving French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife Brigitte at Beijing's airport on Dec 3. Diplomatic sources in Paris were quoted as saying Mr Macron "is going to China without great illusions about his ability to influence Beijing's position on Ukraine and on trade". REUTERS
(PHOTO: REUTERS)
Two European leaders are visiting major Asian nations this week.
French President Emmanuel Macron is now on a three-day tour of China, while Russian President Vladimir Putin is scheduled to arrive in India for a two-day visit on Dec 4.
Both presidents hope to bolster their nations' precarious global trade positions. And both of them are also seeking Asia's support for their respective stances on the war in Ukraine.
Yet, although they are guaranteed a friendly reception and plenty of good banquets, neither Mr Macron nor Mr Putin is likely to return home with more than just lukewarm reassurances.
The French President's current visit to China is his fourth since he came to power in 2017 and, at least according to the official view in Paris, also his grandest.
As leaders of many other countries have discovered, securing even a one-hour meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping is far from easy. But he appears to have been very generous with the time he is granting the visiting French President.
Apart from meetings in Beijing, Mr Xi will accompany Mr Macron on a visit to the Sichuan capital of Chengdu, an honour rarely granted.
Still, Le Monde, one of France's top daily newspapers, quoted diplomatic sources in Paris as claiming that Mr Macron "is going to China without great illusions about his ability to influence Beijing's position on Ukraine and on trade".
European leaders have grown increasingly vocal in their criticism of China's alleged support for Russia's military operations in Ukraine.
This story is from the December 04, 2025 edition of The Straits Times.
Subscribe to Magzter GOLD to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 10,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
MORE STORIES FROM The Straits Times
The Straits Times
Hero who tackled alleged gunman recovering, as donations pour in
Donations for a Sydney man who wrestled a gun from one of the alleged attackers during a mass shooting at Bondi Beach have surged past A$1.1 million (S$940,000), as he recovers in hospital after surgery for bullet wounds.
1 mins
December 16, 2025
The Straits Times
Large class sizes are a matter of economics
As a former Ministry of Education teacher who now runs his own tuition centre, I've come to see class size through a clearer, less idealistic lens (Class sizes matter as teaching workload changes, say Singapore teachers, Dec 13).
1 min
December 16, 2025
The Straits Times
Road safety • Put the brakes on speeding now, not later
Recently, I came across an Expressway Monitoring and Advisory System (EMAS) message on the CTE just before the Ang Mo Kio exit that read: “Heavier speeding penalties starting 2026. Watch your speed.”
1 min
December 16, 2025
The Straits Times
What we can learn from other cities about refreshing ageing home buildings
Decisions on renewing old housing stocks get held up because different residents have different interests. How can we break this logjam?
7 mins
December 16, 2025
The Straits Times
Police search K-pop star Psy's office over alleged illegal prescriptions
South Korean police have taken further action against K-pop star Psy after he was under probe in August over allegations that he had received prescriptions for psychotropic drugs via a proxy.
1 mins
December 16, 2025
The Straits Times
F&B • Build structured training into daily work to boost service
As a hospitality professional managing multiple restaurant brands in Singapore, I have observed that many service issues in the food and beverage (F&B) sector stem not from staff attitude, but from inconsistent training and a lack of clear daily routines.
1 min
December 16, 2025
The Straits Times
Tan happy with 19-gold haul as S'pore 'transition'
As Singapore's swimmers ended their SEA Games campaign by winning five out of seven races on the final night to take their tally to 19 golds, eight silvers and seven bronzes, they celebrated by singing: “We have won the war one more time.”
2 mins
December 16, 2025
The Straits Times
Bondi Beach shooting sparks 'lone wolf' fears in Australia
SYDNEY Even as the authorities probe possible foreign terror links in the Dec 14 Bondi Beach mass shooting, they say the father-and-son duo appear to have acted alone - a scenario that analysts say is hardest to prevent.
3 mins
December 16, 2025
The Straits Times
History made, Oanh on track for her 15th title
History was made on Dec 15 at the Suphachalasai National Stadium when a new queen of the track at the SEA Games was crowned.
2 mins
December 16, 2025
The Straits Times
Roomba robot vacuum's maker files for bankruptcy after 35 years
NEW YORK - Roomba vacuum cleaner's maker, iRobot, said on Dec 14 that it had filed for bankruptcy protection as it grapples with increased competition from lower-priced rivals and US tariffs.
2 mins
December 16, 2025
Listen
Translate
Change font size