China's President Xi Jinping and wife attend state banquet in Paris

• President Xi Jinping and his wife are currently on a two-day state visit to France
• READ MORE: Queen Mary of Denmark is dazzling in a flowing ruby gown and glittering tiara as she and King Frederik attend a gala dinner hosted by King Carl Gustaf XVI and attended by a host of Swedish royals

French President Emmanuel Macron was snapped kissing the wife of China’s President on the hand as he welcomed the couple to a state banquet in Paris.

Xi Jinping and his wife Peng Liyuan are currently undertaking a two-day state visit to France.

As part of the trip, they attended a banquet at the Elysee Palace alongside other prolific figures including French composer and performance artist Jean Michelle Jarre, actress Salma Hayek, Dior CEO Delhpine Arnault, and Director-General of the UNESCO Audrey Azoulay among others.

Ahead of the event, the Chinese couple posed with President Macron and his wife Brigitte Macron.

Both of the political wives donned blue frock for the event, with the French First Lady wearing a baby blue floor-length gown with long sleeves.

The French presidential couple pose with the Chinese president and his wife, during their two-day state visit to France (pictured L-R: Brigitte Macron, Emmanuel Macron, Xi Jinping, Peng Liyuan)

President Macron (pictured, right) was photographed kissing the hand of Peng Liyuan (pictured, left) as he welcomed her to the Elysee Palace

She accessorised with a coordinating clutch bag and simple jewellery. Brigitte completed her look with her blonde tresses in a classic up do, and a simple make-up look featuring smokey, dark eyes, and a natural pink lip.

Meanwhile, Peng Liyuan opted for a dark blue floor length frock with long sleeves and v-neck.

She accessorised with a small clutch bag, pearl jewellery, and a chic up do paired with natural make-up.

Their respective husbands were equally dapper, both sporting dark two-piece suits. President Macron opted for a dark tie, while President Jinping donned a purple one.

While meeting, it has been reported that President Macron held talks with Chinese leader Xi Jinping that focused on trade disputes and Ukraine-related diplomatic efforts.

Speaking after their meeting at the Elysee Palace in Paris, Macron said France hopes China’s influence on Moscow would help to move Russia towards ending the war in Ukraine.

‘We welcome the Chinese authorities’ commitments to refrain from selling any weapons or aid’ and to ‘strictly control’ sales of products and technologies that can be used for both civilian and military purposes, Mr Macron said.

China claims neutrality in the war.

The French first lady was chic in a baby blue floor-length gown, which she paired with a classic up do and make -up look (Pictured L-R: Brigitte Macron, Emmanuel Macron)

Emmanuel Macron and his wife Brigitte at the Elysee Palace for the event

The French and Chinese presidents held talks today during the Chinese state visit to France

Chinese President Xi Jinping (pictured, left) and his wife Peng Liyuan (pictured, right) pose as they arrive for the official state dinner

According to President Jinping: ‘History has repeatedly proven that any conflict can ultimately be resolved only through negotiation.

‘We call on all parties to restart contact and dialogue.’

Russian President Vladimir Putin recently announced plans to visit China this month.

Last year, Macron appealed to Xi Jinping to ‘bring Russia to its senses’, but the call was not followed by any apparent action by Beijing.

Both leaders also expressed their concerns about the situation in the Middle East, where Macron said France and China share the ‘same goals’.

These, he said, include ‘to achieve an immediate ceasefire to release hostages, protect the populations, facilitate the delivery of humanitarian aid, encourage a regional de-escalation and reopen a political perspective’.

US-Mexican actress Salma Hayek (pictured, left) and her husband French businessman Francois-Henri Pinault (pictured, right) were among the guests at the event

Also among the guests was Dior CEO Delhpine Arnault (pictured, left) who attended with her father LVMH CEO Bernard Arnault (pictured, right)

They were also joined at the Elysee Palace in Paris by Director-General of the UNESCO Audrey Azoulay (pictured)

Meanwhile, Jinping called the Israel-Hamas war a ‘tragedy’ and ‘a test of human conscience’.

‘The international community must do something. We call for an immediate, comprehensive and sustainable ceasefire in Gaza,’ he said.

In addition, he expressed China’s willingness to work with France ‘to take the Paris Olympics as an opportunity to advocate a global ceasefire and cessation of war during the Games’.

Macron advocates for making the Paris Games ‘a diplomatic moment of peace’.

Trade issues also were at the top of the agenda as he denounced the trade practices of China as shoring up protections and subsidies.

The Chinese president visited France as part of a two-day state visit. He is now set to head to head to Serbia and Hungary (pictured L-R: French filmmaker Luc Besson, Emmanuel Macron, Xi Jinping)

He thanked the Chinese president for his ‘openness about the provisional measures toward French cognac’, after China opened an anti-dumping investigation into cognac and other European brandy earlier this year.

A senior French diplomat said Jinping had agreed not to apply tariffs in the short-term pending further investigation.

French gifts to the Chinese president on Monday included luxury bottles of cognac.

France hopes to be able to continue to export its products, including brandy and cosmetics, on the Chinese market.

Earlier, European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen joined both leaders for a meeting to address broader European Union concerns.

French President Emmanuel Macron (pictured) is photographed while speaking during the toast at the event

Chinese President Xi Jinping (pictured) speaks during a toast at the official state dinner at the Elysee Palace in Paris

The EU launched an investigation last year into Chinese subsidies and could impose tariffs on electric vehicles exported from China. The 27-member bloc last month opened another inquiry into Chinese wind turbine makers.

‘For trade to be fair, access to both markets needs to be reciprocal,’ Ms von der Leyen said after the meeting. ‘Our market is and remains open to fair competition and to investments, but it is not good for Europe if it harms our security and makes us vulnerable.’

She said Europe ‘will not waver from making tough decisions needed to protect its economy and its security’.

Xi Jinping’s European trip, the first in five years, seeks to rebuild relations at a time of global tensions. After France, he will head to Serbia and Hungary.

His visit marks the 60th anniversary of France-China diplomatic relations, and follows Macron’s trip to China in April 2023.

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