Far from home - that's how the French like their president. On his four-day trip to China, Jacques Chirac will shine, shaking presidential hands and beaming his hearty, reassuring smile at China's most influential men and women.
This is the French leader at his best.
But back on French soil, things are not quite as rosy for the 72-year-old leader.
Since he was re-elected in 2002 with an overwhelming majority against far-right leader Le Pen, Mr Chirac has rarely been so unpopular. A recent poll shows that 61 per cent of the French don't trust him, one of the highest numbers since he became president in 1995.
On the face of it, many would say that is not surprising. In a 40-year political career, Mr Chirac has piled up sleaze scandals, broken promises and, his critics would say, has astoundingly little to show for his 10 years at the Elysee Palace.
Over the past year, his government has suffered crushing defeats in European and regional elections. Unemployment in France remains stubbornly high and the French are deeply unhappy about social security reforms and pension cuts.