From January 8 to 10, French President Emmanuel Macron conducted his first state visit to China, bringing new momentum to Sino-French and Sino-European relations. On January 4, Charhar Institute, a Beijing-based think tank, held the 2018 Sino-French and S
wishes to strengthen ties with China.
Interactions between the two countries reflect mutual interests and a will on both sides for cooperation. Macron has shown positive attitude toward the Belt and Road Initiative and is of the opinion that France’s economy and French enterprises can benefit from it.
Against the backdrop of a rising tide of anti-globalization, Macron’s response has been to make the EU strong and to “make our planet great again,” principles which echo with China’s proposal of building a community with a shared future for mankind.
China’s development offers an opportunity for France and the whole of Europe, rather than posing a challenge. It is necessary for China and European nations to join hands in the defense of values such as multilateralism, free trade and globalization in today’s world. bone of trade, amid increasing uncertainty over relations with the U.S. and the UK. If the two countries are able to reach an agreement to synergize this “backbone” concept with the Belt and Road Initiative, there will be a lot of room for cooperation between the two.
Economic relations are central to bilateral ties, but the Sino-French relationship should not be confined to trade and needs to be expanded to fit a broader brief, with cultural and people-to-people exchanges also able to play an important role. Both China and France are great bastions of culture and we admire each other’s spectacular contributions to the history and culture of the world. Macron selected Xi’an, the eastern terminus of the ancient Silk Road, as the first stop on his visit to China, implying that he already understands the culture to some degree.
Macron’s visit represents a show of confidence in a stronger future relationship between China and France and China and the EU. Since his election success last year, Macron has conducted swift and resolute reforms at home and he has also established plans to reform the eurozone. The situation is the same in China as the country has entered a new era of development and looks to deepen reform following the 19th CPC National Congress. Both countries are in the process of instituting reforms while facing multifarious challenges, and such similar