Macron's China visit reinforces multilateralism

Three days of diplomacy, culture and economic outreach strengthen relationship

BEIJING/PARIS:

French President Emmanuel Macron's three-day state visit to China from Dec 3 to 5 has injected fresh momentum into bilateral ties and reinforced the two countries' shared commitment to multilateralism at a moment of global instability.

Former French prime minister Jean-Pierre Raffarin described the trip as a "significant opportunity for Beijing and Paris to recalibrate their partnership and deepen their joint vision for global governance." Macron concluded his visit in Sichuan with cultural engagements after a day of high-level diplomacy in Beijing. There, he held what both sides termed "friendly, candid and fruitful" talks with President Xi Jinping. The two leaders witnessed the signing of multiple cooperation agreements, addressed the media, and participated in the closing ceremony of the seventh China-France Business Council meeting.

Speaking at a joint presser after their talks, President Xi said that both sides agreed to enhance political mutual trust, expand practical cooperation, promote people-to-people and cultural exchanges, and advance the reform and improvement of global governance, according to Xinhua news agency.

"They agreed to consolidate cooperation in traditional areas such as aviation, aerospace and nuclear energy, and expand cooperation in emerging fields such as green economy, digital economy, biopharmaceuticals and artificial intelligence."

The visit, Macron's fourth and the first following the 60th anniversary of diplomatic ties, further consolidated economic and diplomatic cooperation. Raffarin said both nations — major players in global affairs — stand to benefit from stronger trade, expanded investment, and closer people-to-people exchanges.

He identified three core objectives for rebalancing ties: deepening economic partnerships, shaping global governance ahead of China's APEC hosting and France's G7 presidency, and strengthening cultural cooperation.

President Xi highlighted the importance of cultural and civilisational confidence in shaping independent foreign policy. Recalling his own visit to France's Hautes-Pyrenees in 2024, he said China and France are heirs to ancient civilisations whose engagement represents the "convergence of two splendid civilisations," transcending traditional state-to-state relations.

Macron responded by framing the partnership as a stabilising anchor amid "rapidly evolving uncertainties." He reiterated France's commitment to strategic autonomy, constructive dialogue, and multilateralism, while reaffirming France's adherence to the one-China policy.

As global geopolitics veer toward fragmentation, Macron argued that critical players like Europe and China must maintain engagement to preserve international stability. A comprehensive joint statement released by China's Foreign Ministry underscored strong alignment on environmental governance.

Strategically, France and China signalled a shared commitment to supporting developing nations undergoing ecological transitions. France welcomed China's role in follow-up discussions to the New Global Financing Pact, noting that Beijing is considering participation in the Paris Pact for People and the Planet (4P).

Economically, Macron's visit underscored the centrality of China-France relations within broader EU-China dynamics. China is France's largest trading partner in Asia, while France ranks as China's third-largest trading partner in the EU. Bilateral trade reached nearly $69 billion from January to October 2025.