China pushes for stronger ties with France ahead of possible Macron visit
- In meeting with French counterpart, Chinese foreign minister praises Paris for its ‘strategic autonomy’, calls for ‘bigger developments’ in relations
- French president has yet to confirm trip but previously said he intends to travel to Beijing in the new year
Xi calls for French respect and cooperation in meeting with Macron
Wang added that he would like to see deeper cooperation in trade, agriculture, aviation, green energy, health, medicine and technology.
“China values the core position France holds in the European Union, and appreciates France for holding on to the principle of ‘EU strategic autonomy’,” he said.
Wang added that China-France relations had endured “changing conditions” amid complicated geopolitical and global financial challenges, and ties had generally been stable and showed signs of “positive developments”.
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Colonna called on Wang to continue “rebalancing the Euro-Chinese relationship towards greater economic reciprocity” and encouraged China to open its markets further to European investors, according to a statement from the French foreign ministry. The two officials also discussed North Korea.
While Macron has not confirmed whether he will make a trip to China, he said after the G20 meeting he intended to visit Beijing in the new year.
According to the French statement, Colonna “emphasised the role China could play in leading Russia to stop its war of aggression in Ukraine”. Macron has also said Xi could play a mediating role to prevent the resumption of large-scale ground operations in Ukraine.
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Beijing and EU powers have been looking for ways to make progress in relations between China and individual European countries as well as with the bloc as a whole.
Tensions have flared over myriad issues, including Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Europe’s sanctioning of Chinese officials over human rights conditions in Xinjiang, an unofficial Chinese blockade of Lithuanian goods and spiralling concerns over Taiwan.
However, despite lengthy talks between the two sides, the EU pushed ahead in two World Trade Organization suits against China this month. Sanctions on Chinese officials are also expected to be renewed for another year.
Beijing has consistently urged European powers to exercise “strategic autonomy”, meaning the EU should be able to operate independently and depart from Washington’s hawkish policies on China.
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Macron and US President Joe Biden renewed their strong alliance during the French leader’s state visit and said they would coordinate to face challenges from China.
However, the meeting appeared to do little to resolve the EU’s frustration over Washington’s latest trade policies to promote American manufacturing of essential goods, which could harm European exports.
Over the past two months, European Council president Charles Michel and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz have both visited Beijing to meet Xi.
