France, Dec. 4 -- The French president has appealed to China's leader Xi Jinping to help end the conflict and improve Europe's trade balance as the two met in Beijing's Great Hall on Thursday.

For Macron, the three-day trip offers a chance to build support for a ceasefire in Europe's deadliest conflict since World War II and to encourage more Chinese investment in France.

Paris's trade deficit with China widened to €46 billion in 2024, a gap the French leader wants to shrink.

Xi and First Lady Peng Liyuan welcomed Macron and his wife Brigitte with a red carpet, an honour guard and flag-waving children.

Behind the ceremony, the talks were more restrained.

Macron told Xi that France and China must work through their "differences"...