China's Xi visits Pyrenees mountains, in a personal gesture by France's Macron
TOURMALET PASS, France (AP) — France’s president is hosting China’s leader at a remote mountain pass in the Pyrenees on Tuesday for private meetings after a high-stakes state visit in Paris dominated by trade disputes and Russia’s war in Ukraine.
French President Emmanuel Macron made a point of inviting Chinese President Xi Jinping to the Tourmalet Pass near the Spanish border, where Macron spent time as a child visiting his grandmother. It is meant to be a reciprocal gesture after Xi took Macron last year to the residence of the governor of Guangdong province, where the Chinese president’s father once lived.
Snow coated nearby slopes after new snowfall overnight, and security was tightened around the area. The winding roads up to the pass were blocked by authorities Tuesday for dozens of kilometers (miles).
The mountain meetings come after a grandiose state visit by Xi on Monday that included a ceremonial welcome at the monument housing Napoleon’s tomb and a state dinner at the Elysee Palace with celebrities and magnates.
Xi is on a trip to Europe aimed at reinvigorating relations at a time of global tensions. He heads next to Serbia and Hungary.
Related articles
Skye Wheatley hosts reunion with her I'm A Celebrity co
Skye Wheatley reunited with her I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! Australia co-stars this weeke2024-05-07Why AP called the Pennsylvania 12th District primary for Summer Lee
WASHINGTON (AP) — In her primary victory Tuesday in Pennsylvania’s 12th Congressional District, firs2024-05-07Attempt to expedite ethics probe of Minnesota state senator charged with burglary fails on tie vote
ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — A Republican attempt to expedite an ethics investigation of a Democratic Minn2024-05-07Former Wisconsin college chancellor fired over porn career is fighting to keep his faculty post
MADISON, Wis. (AP) — The University of Wisconsin-La Crosse’s top official has taken the first steps2024-05-07Chinese cars gain popularity in Botswana
GABORONE, May 4 (Xinhua) -- At the 9th edition of the Shell Gaborone Motor Show in Gaborone, the Bot2024-05-07Microsoft and Amazon face scrutiny from UK competition watchdog over recent AI deals
LONDON (AP) — British competition regulators said Wednesday they’ll scrutinize recent artificial int2024-05-07
atest comment