Macron may invite Xi Jinping to G7 summit in France — Bloomberg
Photo: Emmanuel Macron (GettyImages)
France is considering inviting Chinese President Xi Jinping to the 2026 G7 summit. The initiative is being discussed with allies as Paris prepares for key diplomatic moves and attempts to strengthen its international influence, according to Bloomberg.
According to sources familiar with the situation, the idea of inviting the Chinese leader to the G7 summit in France is being discussed behind closed doors.
Meanwhile, French President Emmanuel Macron is scheduled to visit China in December. The Elysée Palace noted that the country seeks to develop cooperation with major powers willing to contribute to the stabilization of global processes.
Context and diplomatic calculation
If Xi Jinping's invitation goes ahead, it will be a bold move for Paris. Against the backdrop of weakening domestic support for the government, France is trying to strengthen its position in international politics.
According to media reports, Macron hopes to rethink the format of the G7, which is losing relevance and increasingly excludes countries with which US President Donald Trump is willing to work.
Allies' reactions and geopolitical risks
In 2019, Paris already invited external guests to the G7 leaders' meeting, but the proposal to ask the Chinese leader may cause controversy among participants.
Sources note that Berlin generally supported the idea, but Washington may react with caution. Relations between the G7 countries and Beijing remain tense due to ongoing trade disputes and restrictions on the export of critical components.
European interests amid US-China rivalry
Amid growing confrontation between Washington and Beijing, Europe is seeking to maintain its influence and find a balance between the two centers of power.
The G7 format, created during the Cold War, no longer reflects the current distribution of economic weight, but it does give European countries the opportunity to shape the international agenda.
The Ministry of Economy of Ukraine, together with its G7 partners, is preparing proposals for the updated composition of the Supervisory Board of JSC National nuclear energy generating company Energoatom, which they plan to present to the government next week. Work on the candidates' list has already begun, and an advisor has been appointed to oversee the process.
The G7 countries intend to increase pressure on Russian oil exports by seeking to reduce supplies to India and Türkiye while increasing production in Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates to reduce the global market's dependence on Russian oil.
