Xi’s trip to France will help further bolster political mutual trust, economic cooperation 

This year marks the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and France. 

Over the past 60 years, there have been tremendous changes in the international situation but the two countries have maintained a positive and steady momentum in developing their relations, and they have achieved fruitful results in various fields. 

The establishment of diplomatic relations between China and France was a major strategic choice made by the older generation of leaders of the two countries, based on China’s opposition to hegemonism and France’s pursuit of autonomy. 

Since taking office, French President Emmanuel Macron has made multilateralism one of his core foreign policy concepts, made deepening France-China relations an important part of France’s foreign policy, and adhered to the one-China policy. 

Both permanent members of the UN Security Council, China and France have played an important role and made positive contributions to upholding multilateralism, promoting the balanced development of major-country relations, and promoting economic globalization. In recent years, under the strategic guidance of President Xi Jinping and President Macron, China-France relations have displayed good momentum. 

The two countries have achieved fruitful strategic communication, mutually beneficial practical cooperation, deepened people-to-people and cultural exchanges, and maintained good communication and coordination in international and regional affairs. 

The upcoming visit to France by President Xi, the first by the Chinese head of state in five years, will further consolidate political mutual trust and add greater impetus to the broadening and deepening of the two countries’ cooperation and coordination. China and France are working together to address global challenges such as climate change, biodiversity loss, and sustainable development, and they have maintained close communication on issues such as the Ukraine crisis and the conflict in Gaza. 

In their exchange of views on such issues, the two leaders will seek ways to make new contributions to world peace, stability, development, and progress. Since the establishment of diplomatic ties 60 years ago, the trade volume between China and France has increased by 800 times, reaching a value of $78.94 billion in 2023. 

France is China’s third-largest trading partner and third-largest source of investment in Europe, and China has become France’s largest trading partner outside the European Union. French wine, cosmetics, luxury goods, and movies are popular among Chinese consumers, and the Airbus assembly plant in Tianjin and the Daya Bay Nuclear Power Plant in Guangzhou are signs of successful cooperation between China and France. 

At the same time, trade in services, green development, scientific and technological innovation, third-party market cooperation, and other areas are becoming new growth points for bilateral cooperation. This year, France will be the guest of honor at the China Fair for Trade in Services and the 7th China International Import Expo. 

Both China and France have a profound cultural heritage and are exemplary examples of exchanges and mutual learning among different civilizations. In recent years, cooperation between the two countries in education, tourism, cul-tural heritage protection, creative industries, youth, and sports has fruitfully grown. 

The EU institutions and some member states have been calling for “de-risking” and “reducing dependence” on China, which has had a negative impact on China-EU relations and China-France relations to some extent. But “de-risking” and “reducing dependence on China” should not be “de-Sinicization” and “decoupling”. 

The electric vehicles and photovoltaic products produced in China are the fruit of the technological innovations of Chinese enterprises, behind which is the efficient utilization of the industry chains and supply chains. These products can help EU countries realize green development and their carbon reduction and low-carbon goals. 

China is comprehensively promoting Chinese modernization with high-quality development, which will bring new opportunities to France and other countries. French companies are welcome to develop businesses in China. China’s huge market is always open and it is striving to improve market access and the protection of intellectual property rights. This will provide a better business en-vironment for French companies. China hopes that France will also provide a fair, transparent, and non-discriminatory competitive environment for Chinese investors. 

Looking forward, China and France can carry forward their fine tradition of cooperation and make greater contributions to improving the well-being of their people and promoting world peace and development. 

Sun Yan, associate research fellow at Institute of European Studies of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences.             

The article was originally published in China Daily on May 3, 2024. The article has been authorized.