Call it Cognac diplomacy. France offered China's Xi a special drink, in a nod to their trade conflict

PARIS (AP) – How to ease trade tensions with the all-powerful leader of Chinese economic power? Charm him with a bottle of Cognac, or two.

This appears to be French President Emmanuel Macron’s strategy with his list of carefully selected gifts for Chinese President Xi Jinping’s visit on Monday.

China recently opened an anti-dumping investigation into European brandy, mainly French cognac. This is in retaliation for EU investigations into Chinese subsidies for electric cars and medical devices.

These differences were at the heart of discussions between Xi and Macron on Monday. Macron then said he thanked Xi for his “openness on the provisional measures towards French cognac”.

In accordance with protocol for formal state visits, the two leaders then exchanged gifts.

Xi presented the French president with a striking stuffed bird, French-language books published in China and a painting. Macron offered rare volumes of Victor Hugo, the first French-Chinese dictionary, a carved glass vase from Amboise – and two bottles of Cognac, a Hennessy XO and a prized Louis XIII from Rémy Martin.