Paris Edition

Macron Wants to Make the G-7 Great Again (With Xi)

The French president’s plan to invite his Chinese counterpart may backfire if it worsens Western divisions

Emmanuel Macron and Xi Jinping during a bilateral meeting.

Photographer: Ludovic Marin/Getty Images
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Bonjour et Bienvenue to the Paris Edition. I’m Bloomberg Opinion columnist Lionel Laurent. If you haven’t yet, subscribe now to the Paris Edition newsletter.

Emmanuel Macron has always relished the international stage, but especially so as his domestic legacy crumbles and the end of his second and final presidential term nears. With France due to host G-7 leaders next year at a time when Europe is struggling to stay relevant and as Sino-American rivalry tears the West apart, Macron is said to be mulling a typically bold move: Invite Chinese President Xi Jinping to the summit.