MOSCOW (Pakistan Point News / Sputnik - 04th November, 2019) French President Emmanuel Macron is set to start a three-day visit to China on Monday, during which he will attend a major international trade fair in Shanghai and push for greater European access to the market of the world's second-largest economy.
Apart from the talks with President Xi Jinping, Macron will attend the opening ceremony of the second China International Import Expo in Shanghai on November 5. The event will feature other top European leaders and officials, including incoming EU Trade Commissioner Phil Hogan.
Trade is expected to dominate Macron's visit, which comes as the European Union and China seek to hammer out a comprehensive agreement on investment by next year.
According to the French presidency website, Macron will be accompanied by a large delegation of businesses - from global giants to small firms - to promote French exports to China.
Human Rights Watch, meanwhile, urged the French president on October 31 to use his visit to press Beijing for alleged human rights abuses in Xinjiang and raise the issue of Hong Kong protests. Beijing has repeatedly rejected any rights abuses in these two Chinese regions, slamming all allegations to the contrary as an interference in its internal affairs.
