What does China think of Macron’s French election victory?
Chinese analysts say uncertainties remain over whether France’s new president will be able to push through his pro-EU and globalisation agenda
Beijing heaved a sigh of relief at Emmanuel Macron’s decisive victory in France’s presidential election on the weekend, a win analysts say helped the continent avoid a political crisis that threatened to throw the European Union into total disarray.
Chinese President Xi Jinping sent a congratulatory message to the 39-year-old pro-European centrist, whose 30-point winning margin was widely hailed as holding back waves of populism and antiglobalisation sentiment similar to those that propelled Donald Trump to the US presidency and drove Britain’s vote to leave the EU.
But observers say it remains to be seen if the inexperienced president-elect can rise above a fractured France and Europe, boost his country’s economy and address a raft of security and diplomatic uncertainties in a changing geopolitical landscape.
According to Xinhua, Xi expressed hopes to “work with the French side to push the close and sustaining China-France comprehensive strategic partnership to a higher level”.
“Maintaining the steady and healthy development of the China-France relationship benefits not only the two countries and peoples, but also world peace, stability and development,” he said.