French President Emmanuel Macron urged Chinese President Xi Jinping to deepen cooperation on geopolitics, trade and climate issues, as the European Union looks to Beijing for help in ending the war in Ukraine while China seeks diplomatic openings amid renewed U.S. tariffs.
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Macron arrived in China with a large business delegation for his fourth state visit, hoping to boost his foreign policy standing and secure commercial deals that could energise French industry. The visit comes as he seeks to strengthen his legacy in the remaining years of his presidency, following a politically turbulent summer and with the 2027 election approaching.
China, meanwhile, is aiming to ease trade tensions with the EU over its heavily subsidised electric vehicle industry and to present itself as a stable partner — and alternative market to the United States — as global recession risks climb amid President Donald Trump’s tariff measures.
“Now, more than ever, dialogue between China and France is vital,” Macron told Xi during their meeting at Beijing’s Great Hall of the People on Thursday. He outlined a three-part cooperation agenda focused on geopolitical stability, economic rebalancing and environmental sustainability.
“We have to continue to rally in favour of peace and stability,” he added, stressing that joint efforts on Ukraine were “decisive.”
Limited Political Headway Expected
Xi will accompany Macron on Friday to Sichuan province — a rare gesture, as Xi seldom travels with foreign leaders outside Beijing. But despite the warm optics, analysts caution that major political obstacles remain.
Beijing is unlikely to approve a long-awaited 500-aircraft Airbus order, seen as critical leverage in China’s trade talks with Washington, which is pushing for increased Boeing sales. Xi is also not expected to ease minimum pricing restrictions on French cognac, part of a wider dispute triggered by EU tariffs on Chinese EVs.
Chinese duties on EU pork are also unlikely to change, as Beijing seeks concessions on European minimum pricing rules for China-made electric vehicles — tariffs France supported in a 2024 EU vote.
Any diplomatic gestures on Ukraine would also be tempered by China’s recent assurances of continued support to Russia. Meanwhile, the EU is preparing new economic security measures aimed at reducing dependence on China.
“No matter how the external environment changes, our two countries should always demonstrate the independence and strategic vision of major powers,” Xi told Macron, reaffirming China’s stated commitment to peace efforts in Ukraine and Gaza. He also encouraged deeper cooperation in aerospace, nuclear energy, AI, biopharmaceuticals and the green economy.
Following their talks, both sides signed 12 agreements covering investment, population ageing, nuclear energy, and panda cooperation.
Business Stakes High
Macron has long advocated for a unified European approach to China, while avoiding direct conflict with Beijing — a vital market for major French companies. Executives from Airbus, BNP Paribas, Schneider Electric, Alstom and leading agricultural groups accompanied him on the trip.
The EU’s trade deficit with China has surged nearly 60% since 2019, and France’s own deficit continues to widen. China is France’s seventh-largest trading partner, importing about $35 billion in French goods annually, with cosmetics, aircraft parts and spirits among key exports.
France, in turn, imports around $45 billion worth of Chinese products, much of it low-cost consumer goods shipped directly from Chinese factories through platforms such as Shein, facilitated by an EU customs waiver on purchases under €150.
Macron called for “fairer and stronger” economic rules, warning against a global economy based purely on “survival of the fittest.” He stressed the need for trust and stability in supply chains as both sides navigate economic and geopolitical uncertainty.
