Macron seeks closer cooperation with China - In focus, the war in Ukraine and the reduction of trade tensions
French President Emmanuel Macron has called on Chinese leader Xi Jinping to work more closely on geopolitical, trade and environmental issues, as the European Union seeks China's help to end the war in Ukraine. Beijing, meanwhile, aims to secure a diplomatic victory in the face of US tariffs.
A large business delegation accompanied Macron on his fourth state visit to the world's second-largest economy. The French leader aims to strengthen his foreign policy position and secure trade deals for French industry after a turbulent summer and ahead of presidential elections in 2027.
While China aims to ease trade tensions with the EU regarding the subsidized electric vehicle sector, presenting itself as a reliable trading partner and as an alternative to the US.
Xi encouraged Macron to deepen cooperation in aerospace and nuclear energy, as well as in the fields of artificial intelligence, green economy and biopharmaceuticals.
The two leaders signed 12 cooperation agreements after their talks, covering population aging, bilateral investment, nuclear energy and panda conservation.
Macron has sought in the past to present a strong European front towards China, but without conflicting with Beijing, as the country is a key market for many well-known French companies.
The EU's trade deficit with China has widened by almost 60% since 2019, while France's trade surplus with the $19 trillion economy continues to widen. China is France's seventh-largest trading partner, buying about $35 billion in goods each year, according to Chinese customs data. About 10% of those products are cosmetics, while aircraft parts and alcoholic beverages are also among the top exports.
On the other hand, France imports Chinese goods worth around $45 billion, mainly low-value packages through online platforms like Shein, thanks to an EU customs exemption for purchases under 150 euros.
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