The flight of Valkyrie

The head of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen “on the tail” at Macron visited China

The European Union, represented by the chairman of the European Commission, told the Chinese leadership that he was very interested in fruitful coexistence with China in new international conditions, because his weight, influence and potential are recognized. But he rejects attempts to divide the European nations and quarrel them with the closest relative - America.

The EU recognizes the difference between systems, but calls for working according to the rules of the open market and free competition. True (and this is new), at the same time will be protected from risks for its safety. That is, protect the sensitive industries and technologies.

The visit to the Beijing of France President Emmanuel Macron and the head of the European Commission Ursula von der Lyain was “hybrid” from April 5 to 7 to April 7. When on the eve of the trip, journalists in Brussels expressed surprise with a non-trivial format, its spokesman fogfully noted that there were precedents, but it was difficult to recall the analogies.

Indeed, Macron flew on a state visit at the highest level invitation with all the reliable rituals and the standard task of “selling” his country and the interests of its business. And von der Layen, in vulgarly expressing herself, sat on his tail. True, she also had an invitation from Beijing. But she formulated her task in a rather harsh and did not like the Chinese in Brussels, at the Mercator Chinese Institute.

According to the results of the Beijing meetings with someone's light hand in the messages of the world media, a comparison appeared with the "bad and good police." And also the contrast between the Beijing treated two high -ranking guests from Europe, was obvious from the very beginning.

Macron went down the ladder with a red carpet from the French “Board number 1” (Cotam Unité). Below it was welcomed by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of China Qin Gan, one of the most proxies of the chairman of Xi Jinping. Honorary guard, anthem ...

Von der Lyaine was met at the airport terminal at the usual passenger exit Minister of Ecology, Juan Zhunzu.

The next day, on Thursday morning, the chairman of SI went down the steps of the huge staircase of the house of popular assembly to welcome the president of France with a wide smile and handshake.

Only after some time, von der Leyen drove up by car and climbed the same staircase, accompanied by a Chinese low rank employee. Its main interlocutor was the recently appointed Prime Minister of the State Council of the PRC Lee Tsyan. In his jurisdiction - the economy of China. Actually, according to the profile of the head of the Executive Board of the EU. Von der Lyain arranged for her personal press conference in the residence of the EU delegation in China on Thursday evening, many kilometers from the place of state reception, at which he treated French guests with the works of Chinese cooking. In short, the head of the European Commission and the French president had different programs and statuses.

In the Chinese political culture, ceremonial is very important. This is related to the East and our party nomenclature. From the practice of work in the state media of the seventies, I remember how the boss forced the note to bring the same number of lines from the performances of the two leaders. Say, German Honecker and Bulgarian Zhivkov. And God forbid to confuse the sequence of listing those who met or escorted party bonz at the airport.

In China, this is still in force, so Si was annoyed and nervous when Macron did not observe temporary parity in performances, improvised and addressed him directly about the Russian military operation in Ukraine.

For Beijing, state sovereignty is sacred, and EU chiefs in status below national. But although the programs of the visits of Macron and von der Lyeen were different and the head of the European Commission was prepared for a role in negotiations on specific issues of trade, investment and technology, on Thursday the main event of a “hybrid” visit was held: President Macron invited von der Lyayen to a tripartite meeting. Both European guests seem to have continued to play the roles of two different police officers. A bilateral meeting of SI and von der Lyeen took place.

Beijing is convinced that Europeans are dancing under the tune of the United States.

In the retelling of the Sinhua agency, Si said that "the relationship of China and the EU is not aimed at any third side and should not depend or dictate any third side." A clear hint of the USA. European diplomats in Brussels say that this is a “zero understanding” of what the union between Europe and the USA means.

During the visit, Beijing launched the offensive with charm to drive a wedge between Europeans and Americans. Von der Layen rejected such attempts: "Transatlantic ties are strong and have been based on trust and deep friendship for decades."

The Chinese also outlined their version of the peaceful coexistence of various socio-political systems. In the presentation of the same “Xinhua”, Xi Jinping told the guests,

that “the inflating of the so -called narrative“ democracy against authoritarianism ”and inciting a new cold war will only lead to separation and confrontation in the world.

Regarding the main issue of the agenda - the prospects of the world in Ukraine. In public messages, both Macron and von der Layen called on China to use their relations with Russia in order to try to put an end to bloodshed. If Macron played a “good policeman”, expressing the hope that the leader of China “return Russia to the mind”, then von der Layen warned: if Beijing puts the weapons of Russia, even through intermediaries, then this “will really cause significant damage to relations between the EU and China”.

While Macron adhered to a moderate tone towards the President of SI, refrained from criticism of China and from the condemnation of Russia, von der Lyaine selected clear words and openly criticized the position of Beijing in a crisis with Ukraine.

If Macron called the China document to settle an interesting “peaceful plan” in Ukraine, then von der Lyen rejected it as “just a non -viable plan”.

Si repeated the well -known position of Beijing. At least, neither from official publications, nor from diplomatic leaks, it is not yet known anything new and more definite, except for the promise to call Vladimir Zelensky once to clarify his plan.

But even if this happens, the observer of the German Reutlinger General-Anger believes, he will remain on the side of Russia. It is beneficial to Beijing if the current leader remains in Russia. Because in Ukraine we are talking not only about ... [su], but also about the correct way to achieve the world. It is also a line of conflict between autocracy and democracy. Zelensky says that Ukraine protects the Western world.

“But China is so faithful to Putin for the same reason. They both defend the idea of ​​their world order, ”the author notes.

On economic issues, which seemingly the main in the competence of von der Lyain, no noticeable advancements were noted.

The parties confirmed the mutual desire to trade and invest, the recognition that they have no other path.

Si said that China and the EU should keep their markets open to each other, provide a fair and non -scripture environment for business and avoid turning economic and trade issues into politics or national security issues. According to him, it is necessary to create stable and reliable supply chains and unite the Chinese infrastructure project “One Belt, One Path” with the European Strategy “Global Gate”.

But the opinion of von der Lyain, formulated at the Mercator Institute on equal rules for the game and free competition, is probably not heard. According to the head of the European Commission, during her conversation with SI the stalling investment transaction of the EU with China (a comprehensive investment agreement) was not mentioned.