As Emmanuel Macron prepared for Chinese President Xi Jinping’s visit to France, he emphasized the importance of strengthening economic ties with China. He pointed out that Europe needs to have strong relationships with China for both climate and security reasons. Macron highlighted the need for a balanced role in the global economic field, where China can participate freely.
Macron’s statements set the tone for Xi’s two-day state visit to France, which marked his first trip to Europe in five years. During the visit, Xi is expected to hold talks with Macron and European Commission head Ursula von der Leyen. The aim is to promote agricultural exports from France to the Chinese market and address concerns from the French cosmetics industry regarding intellectual property rights.
However, challenges remain in reestablishing relations between France and China amidst increasing trade competition. Paris supports an EU investigation into Chinese electric vehicle exports, while Beijing has initiated investigations into French-made spirits imports. These actions are viewed as retaliatory measures by both sides.
Despite efforts from Paris to influence Beijing on addressing the situation in Ukraine, progress has been limited. Macron’s visit to Beijing last year resulted in the first phone call between Xi and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. Following this visit, Xi will travel to Serbia and Hungary, countries known for their friendly relations with Russia.
