French President Emmanuel Macron is contemplating inviting Chinese President Xi Jinping to the 2026 Group of Seven summit in Evian, a move that has reportedly been discussed with some European allies. The deliberation coincides with Macron considering a trip to China in December, according to sources familiar with internal discussions. Officials at the Elysee Palace stated that France seeks to engage major emerging nations willing to help address global economic imbalances.
The proposal would be a bold diplomatic maneuver for Macron, whose domestic political influence is constrained. With the G-7 struggling for relevance and the United States sidelining the G-20 this month, Macron appears to be leveraging the summit to assert France—and Europe—as a global diplomatic player. While it is customary for G-7 hosts to invite guest nations to attend parts of the meeting, such invitations typically go to countries aligned with the bloc’s democratic values, such as Australia.
In recent years, the G-7 has focused increasingly on managing China’s rising influence, including safeguarding supply chains and countering Russia’s war in Ukraine, where Beijing is seen as a potential enabler. Inviting Xi could therefore spark tense discussions, and it remains unclear whether the Chinese leader would accept the invitation or if other G-7 members would endorse the move. French officials have quietly floated the idea with German counterparts, who are generally supportive.
The proposal reflects broader European efforts to assert influence amid the escalating geopolitical rivalry between Washington and Beijing. Tensions this year have risen as former US President Donald Trump threatened steep tariffs on Chinese exports and Beijing retaliated by restricting sales of critical components to both the US and Europe. European leaders have been seeking leverage to protect their interests, even as the G-7 format, rooted in the Cold War, no longer mirrors the distribution of global economic power.
Macron has previously used the G-7 platform to enhance France’s diplomatic stature, most notably in 2019 when Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif made a surprise appearance at the summit. With his second and final term set to end in 2027, Macron appears poised to employ similar strategies next year to elevate Europe’s role on the global stage.
