Emmanuel Macron arrived in China on Wednesday for a three-day state visit focusing on trade and diplomatic talks as the French president seeks to enlist Beijing in pressurising Russia toward a ceasefire with Ukraine.
Macron will advocate for an agenda of cooperation in economic and trade matters aimed at achieving a balance that ensures “sustainable, solid growth that benefits everyone”.
France is aiming to attract more investment from Chinese companies and facilitate market access for French exports. During the visit, officials from both nations are expected to sign several agreements in the energy, food industry, and aviation sectors.
He and his wife Brigitte wore open overcoats against the winter chill as they stepped off a plane after nightfall at an airport in Beijing and walked down a red-carpeted jet-way. They were greeted by Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, who spoke with Macron before the French leader and his wife departed in a limousine.
They are expected to visit the 18th-century Qianlong Garden complex in the Forbidden City, the former palace of China's emperors. The garden, which dates from the Qing dynasty, recently reopened to the public after a major renovation.
France will host the Group of Seven summit in 2026, involving the world's most advanced economies, while China will chair the 21-member Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum, which includes the United States, South Korea, Japan, Australia and Russia.
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The 27-nation bloc runs a massive trade deficit with China — over 300 billion euros (USD 348 billion) last year. China alone represents 46 per cent of France's total trade deficit.
France and the European Union have described China as a partner, competitor and systemic rival. Recent years have been marked by multiple trade disputes across a range of industries after the EU undertook a probe into Chinese electric vehicle subsidies. China responded with investigations into imports of European brandy, pork and dairy products.
Macron's talks with President Xi Jinping will also address Russia's war in Ukraine, particularly following a meeting on Monday in Paris with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to discuss potential terms for a ceasefire.
“What we want ... is that China can convince and influence Russia to move towards a ceasefire as quickly as possible and consolidate that ceasefire through negotiations which, in our view, should lead to solid security guarantees for Ukraine,” a French top diplomatic official said.
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