Xi and Macron have tea at informal talks in China

Chinese President Xi Jinping held an informal meeting with his French counterpart, Emmanuel Macron, in the southern Chinese city of Guangzhou on Friday. Xi spoke with pride about the development of Guangdong, the country’s economic powerhouse in the south, when he hosted a tea ceremony for Macron.

In the Chinese-style garden of the Guangdong governor’s residence, Xi praised Guangdong for its bellwether role and said emerging industries and high-end technology will be boosted in the area.Macron is wrapping up his three-day visit to China, during which he pointed to Chinese support for the United Nations Charter, which calls for respect of a country’s territorial integrity.

On Wednesday, the French and Chinese governments announced agreements including the purchase of 160 Airbus aircraft by a Chinese leasing company and for their companies to collaborate on nuclear, solar, wind power and biofuel development.Earlier on Friday Macron met with students at Guangzhou's Sun Yat-sen University.