TARBES, France — Chinese President Xi Jinping left France on Tuesday (May 7) after a two-day trip during which he offered no major concessions on trade or foreign policy, even as President Emmanuel Macron pressed him on market access and Ukraine.

Macron and his wife Brigitte waved goodbye to Xi and his wife Peng Liyuan at the airport in France's southwestern Pyrenees region, after taking them to lunch in the mountains following a day of talks and state pomp in Paris on Monday.

A source close to the French presidency said the trip allowed for "friendly and very frank talks" that allowed Macron to pass on messages on Ukraine and would allow for more open talks in the future.

Macron has a history of trying to establish personal relationships outside of protocol in not always successful attempts to obtain more from other leaders.

After watching traditional dancers perform under the snowy peaks, the two presidential couples ate locally grown ham, lamb, cheese and blueberry pie. Xi said he would give the ham some publicity and praised the cheese.

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