In the blustery Pyrenees mountains on Tuesday, Chinese leader Xi Jinping had lunch with French counterpart Emmanuel Macron. On the menu: everything from Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the Middle East crisis to trade, biodiversity and climate change.

The setting was chosen to be relaxed and allow the two presidents to speak frankly. It was here that Macron spent childhoods in La Mongie, a village at 1,800 metres (5,905 feet) above sea level, where he and his wife Brigitte frequently ski.

They were expected to discuss grounds for cooperation, such as environmental and climatic issues, and – according to media reports – attempt to thrash out more agreements to be added to the 37 intergovernmental accords signed on Monday.