French President Emmanuel Macron, China's Xi Jinping and their wives Brigitte Macron and Peng Liyuan spent Tuesday holding private talks in the Pyrenees mountains. AFP
French President Emmanuel Macron, China's Xi Jinping and their wives Brigitte Macron and Peng Liyuan spent Tuesday holding private talks in the Pyrenees mountains. AFP
French President Emmanuel Macron, China's Xi Jinping and their wives Brigitte Macron and Peng Liyuan spent Tuesday holding private talks in the Pyrenees mountains. AFP
French President Emmanuel Macron, China's Xi Jinping and their wives Brigitte Macron and Peng Liyuan spent Tuesday holding private talks in the Pyrenees mountains. AFP

China's Xi Jinping scolds Nato despite French charm offensive


Tim Stickings
  • English
  • Arabic

China's President Xi Jinping took a swipe at Nato's past actions on Tuesday despite a French charm offensive on a rare visit to Europe.

Mr Xi said China would "never forget" the bombing of its embassy in Belgrade in 1999 during Nato air strikes in Yugoslavia.

He invoked what he called that "tragic history" as like-minded Serbia prepares to welcome Mr Xi for a state visit.

His article in Serbian media appeared as Mr Xi was accompanying French President Emmanuel Macron for private talks in the Pyrenees.

Europe is lobbying Mr Xi to use China's ties to Russia and Iran to restrain their actions in Ukraine and the Middle East, respectively.

Mr Macron discussed Iran and the Middle East with Mr Xi before taking the Chinese leader to the mountain air of the Col du Tourmalet.

The two leaders took separate flights to the Pyrenees before watching a traditional dance routine and eating local delicacies in an area where a young Mr Macron spent holidays.

Traditional dancers performed for Mr Macron and Mr Xi in a French charm offensive for the visiting Chinese leader. AP
Traditional dancers performed for Mr Macron and Mr Xi in a French charm offensive for the visiting Chinese leader. AP

The French President has a history of trying to forge close personal relationships with his counterparts but has a mixed record of extracting concessions from them.

While Mr Xi spoke warmly of China's relations with France, he offered few hints of concrete concessions in his talks in Paris on Monday.

China "did not start the Ukraine crisis, nor is it a party to or a participant in it" and opposes attempts to "stoke a new Cold War", he said.

He also denied there was any Chinese "overcapacity problem", a key grievance for European officials in trade talks.

The second and third legs of Mr Xi's trip will take him to Serbia and Hungary, regarded as two of the most Moscow and Beijing-friendly governments in Europe.

In his article for a Serbian audience, Mr Xi spoke of an "ironclad friendship" as he recalled the deaths of three people in the Chinese embassy bombing that took place 25 years ago on Tuesday.

Nato called the May 1999 bombing a "deeply regrettable mistake" during an air campaign meant to stop ethnic cleansing in Kosovo.

Nato's bombing of Yugoslavia in 1999 still rankles with both Serbia and China. AP
Nato's bombing of Yugoslavia in 1999 still rankles with both Serbia and China. AP

An envoy for then-US president Bill Clinton was sent to explain how a CIA agent had mistaken the embassy for a Yugoslav weapons centre.

"Twenty-five years ago today, Nato flagrantly bombed the Chinese embassy in Yugoslavia, killing three Chinese journalists," Mr Xi said.

"This we should never forget. The Chinese people cherish peace but we will never allow such tragic history to repeat itself."

Serbia aspires to EU membership but still bristles at the Nato bombing campaign and has maintained close ties to Russia and China.

Hungary is meanwhile briefing before Mr Xi's visit that it "rejects protectionist efforts to exclude Chinese goods from the European market", for example welcoming ties with telecoms giant Huawei.

Our legal consultant

Name: Dr Hassan Mohsen Elhais

Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.

The Transfiguration

Director: Michael O’Shea

Starring: Eric Ruffin, Chloe Levine

Three stars

The burning issue

The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE. 

Read part four: an affection for classic cars lives on

Read part three: the age of the electric vehicle begins

Read part two: how climate change drove the race for an alternative 

SPECS
%3Cp%3E%0D%3Cstrong%3EEngine%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%204.0-litre%20twin-turbo%20V8%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPower%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20750hp%20at%207%2C500rpm%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETorque%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20800Nm%20at%205%2C500rpm%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETransmission%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%207%20Speed%20dual-clutch%20auto%0D%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETop%20speed%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20332kph%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFuel%20consumption%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%2012.2L%2F100km%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EOn%20sale%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EYear%20end%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPrice%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20From%20Dh1%2C430%2C000%20(coupe)%3B%20From%20Dh1%2C566%2C000%20(Spider)%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Results

STAGE

1 . Filippo Ganna (Ineos) - 0:13:56

2. Stefan Bissegger (Education-Nippo) - 0:00:14

3. Mikkel Bjerg (UAE Team Emirates) - 0:00:21

4. Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates) - 0:00:24

5. Luis Leon Sanchez (Astana) - 0:00:30

GENERAL CLASSIFICATION

1. Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates) - 4:00:05

2. Joao Almeida (QuickStep) - 0:00:05

3. Mattia Cattaneo (QuickStep) - 0:00:18

4. Chris Harper (Jumbo-Visma) - 0:00:33

5. Adam Yates (Ineos) - 0:00:39

SPECS
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EEngine%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3A%202-litre%20direct%20injection%20turbo%20%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETransmission%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3A%207-speed%20automatic%20%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPower%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3A%20261hp%20%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETorque%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3A%20400Nm%20%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPrice%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3A%20From%20Dh134%2C999%26nbsp%3B%3C%2Fp%3E%0A

The Beach Bum

Director: Harmony Korine

Stars: Matthew McConaughey, Isla Fisher, Snoop Dogg

Two stars

Huroob Ezterari

Director: Ahmed Moussa

Starring: Ahmed El Sakka, Amir Karara, Ghada Adel and Moustafa Mohammed

Three stars

Key facilities
  • Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
  • Premier League-standard football pitch
  • 400m Olympic running track
  • NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
  • 600-seat auditorium
  • Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
  • An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
  • Specialist robotics and science laboratories
  • AR and VR-enabled learning centres
  • Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
Company profile

Date started: January, 2014

Founders: Mike Dawson, Varuna Singh, and Benita Rowe

Based: Dubai

Sector: Education technology

Size: Five employees

Investment: $100,000 from the ExpoLive Innovation Grant programme in 2018 and an initial $30,000 pre-seed investment from the Turn8 Accelerator in 2014. Most of the projects are government funded.

Partners/incubators: Turn8 Accelerator; In5 Innovation Centre; Expo Live Innovation Impact Grant Programme; Dubai Future Accelerators; FHI 360; VSO and Consult and Coach for a Cause (C3)

David Haye record

Total fights: 32
Wins: 28
Wins by KO: 26
Losses: 4

Dunki
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirector%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Rajkumar%20Hirani%C2%A0%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarring%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Shah%20Rukh%20Khan%2C%20Taapsee%20Pannu%2C%20Vikram%20Kochhar%20and%20Anil%20Grover%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%204%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
PROFILE OF SWVL

Started: April 2017

Founders: Mostafa Kandil, Ahmed Sabbah and Mahmoud Nouh

Based: Cairo, Egypt

Sector: transport

Size: 450 employees

Investment: approximately $80 million

Investors include: Dubai’s Beco Capital, US’s Endeavor Catalyst, China’s MSA, Egypt’s Sawari Ventures, Sweden’s Vostok New Ventures, Property Finder CEO Michael Lahyani

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The years Ramadan fell in May

1987

1954

1921

1888

The specs

Engine: 4.0-litre V8 twin-turbocharged and three electric motors

Power: Combined output 920hp

Torque: 730Nm at 4,000-7,000rpm

Transmission: 8-speed dual-clutch automatic

Fuel consumption: 11.2L/100km

On sale: Now, deliveries expected later in 2025

Price: expected to start at Dh1,432,000

Updated: May 07, 2024, 3:07 PM`