Meetings The French president will be the first European head of state invited to Apec
French President Emmanuel Macron arrives at Bangkok airport on November 16, 2022. — Ludovic MARIN/AFP
French President Emmanuel Macron has arrived Wednesday evening at; Bangkok to participate in the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) summit after the G20 summit in Indonesia, noted that an AFP journalist around 4:30 p.m. French time.
During this two-day meeting, Emmanuel Macron will try to relaunch France’s strategic ambitions in Asia Pacific, which have been updated. hurt by the crisis with Australia over a mega-sub contract in 2021.
“Stability” and “Cooperation” on the menu
On Tuesday, he had talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping and Indonesian President Joko Widodo and was also due to meet Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on Wednesday, on the sidelines of the G20 summit in Indonesia. /p>
“The President reaffirmed France’s commitment to the region to promote stability; and cooperation in the face of common challenges,” l’Elysée; the outcome of the bilateral meeting with Joko Widodo.
“”Recognition” France’s influence
He especially hopes for “recognition” France’s ambitions and influence at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) summit on Thursday and Friday in Paris. Bangkok, to which he will be the first European head of state invited.
The challenges are numerous, from the size of the area in which France is trying to project itself, to more than 10,000 kilometers from Europe, the weakness of the means deployed by Paris, in particular military.