French President Francois Hollande on Sunday called for efforts to intensify the relationship between Europe and Asia in the face of resurgent “isolationism”.
He was speaking in Singapore, the first stage of the last international tour of his five-year term which will also take him to Malaysia and Indonesia. “I appeal for us to intensify our exchanges, our trade, political and cultural agreements,” he said. “This is all the more necessary because there is a resurgence of protectionism, isolationism and the questioning of... International institutions,” he said in a clear allusion to the US under President Donald Trump.