The Elysee Palace announced Friday that French President Emmanuel Macron will take advantage of his "state visit" to China from April 5 to 8 to "work" with his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping on the "return to peace" in Ukraine .

The French presidency said in a statement that Macron's visit will lead him to Beijing as well as to Canton, stressing that he is "committed to maintaining a continuous and demanding dialogue with China."

Macron announced at the end of February that he would visit China in early April, but he did not reveal the exact dates and cities involved.

"The French and Chinese presidents will hold in-depth discussions about the war in Ukraine to work for the return of peace within the framework of international law, in particular Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity," the Elysee said in its statement.

This week, Xi visited Russia, where he showed his strong support for his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, in confronting the West. And Beijing put forward proposals before that to settle the Ukrainian conflict.

France intends to push China, which has not condemned the Russian invasion of Ukraine, to use its influence with Moscow to persuade Putin to sit down at the negotiating table with Kiev.

According to the French presidency, the talks at the beginning of April "will also focus on international crises in the Middle East and Africa and tensions in the Indian and Pacific region."

She added, "The reopening of China after the pandemic provides an opportunity to re-launch the dynamism of French-Chinese relations at all levels, at a time when international tensions and crises require more than ever before giving a horizon to this strategic partnership."

The Elysee said in its statement that the visit will include three main axes: strategic issues and international crises, cooperation in facing major global challenges, and economic relations.

Macron also announced at a press conference Friday in Brussels that European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen will accompany him "as part of the visit program" based on the principle of "European unity", which is "a prerequisite for building a balanced partnership with China."

And the Elysee added that the visit also aims to "give a new impetus to French-Chinese cooperation in facing global issues in which a strong commitment from China is necessary given the impact of its development on the rest of the planet," and among these issues are climate and biodiversity.