During talks held in Paris on Monday, President Xi Jinping and his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron emphasized the importance of upholding mutual benefits and jointly opposing acts of “decoupling” that disrupt industrial and supply chains. They also reaffirmed their commitment to rejecting barriers to trade and cooperation.
Xi stressed the need for China and France to maintain independence and unite against the prospect of a “new Cold War” or bloc confrontation, as reported by the Xinhua News Agency. The Chinese President also participated in a welcoming ceremony hosted by Macron on Monday.
Earlier in the day, Xi attended a trilateral meeting with Macron and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen at Elysee Palace, signaling a commitment to deepening cooperation between China, France, and the EU.
In a signed article published in French media Le Figaro on Sunday, Xi highlighted the need for stronger cooperation between China and France, aiming to strengthen their comprehensive strategic partnership and contribute to global cooperation.
Strategic Significance
Wang Yiwei, director of the Institute of International Affairs at Renmin University, described Xi’s visit as the high point of China’s diplomacy toward Europe this year. He emphasized the EU’s crucial role in promoting political multipolarity and economic globalization.
Macron’s decision to accompany Xi to the Pyrenees underscores the special relationship between the two leaders and symbolizes a gesture of courtesy, according to analysts.
Tian Dewen, deputy director of the Institute of European Studies at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, noted the stable nature of China-France relations over the past five years, attributed to Macron’s positive approach to relations with China.
Seeking Consensus
At the trilateral meeting, Xi emphasized the importance of China-EU cooperation in achieving mutual modernization goals. He urged continued dialogue, cooperation, and strategic coordination between China and the EU to contribute to global peace and development.
Macron underscored the importance of coordination with Beijing on major crises, such as those in Ukraine and the Middle East, as “absolutely decisive.”
He Zhigao, a research fellow at the Institute of European Studies of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, highlighted the significance of the trilateral meeting in strengthening high-level exchanges and enhancing strategic consensus between China and Europe.
Von der Leyen stressed the importance of maintaining good relations with China, emphasizing their role in addressing global challenges like climate change and the Ukraine crisis.
Xi urged both sides to address economic and trade frictions through dialogue and consultation, accommodating each other’s legitimate concerns.
Autonomous Decision-Making
Sun Keqin, a research fellow at the China Institutes of Contemporary International Relations, noted Europe’s ability to maintain a degree of autonomy despite US interference. He emphasized France’s pragmatic approach to strategic autonomy.
Through Xi’s visit, European leaders have the opportunity to reassess their relationship with China and choose between confrontation or mutually beneficial cooperation, Sun added.