Beijing, Paris eye closer links after 60 years of diplomatic relations

Chinese and French officials and businesses on Sunday launched the China-France industrial cultural exchange week in the Beijing Economic and Technological Development Area (BDA), known as Beijing E-Town, to promote economic and trade cooperation, with a focus on emerging new industries such as green development and the digital economy.

The cultural exchange week is part of a wide-ranging series of events that are aimed at marking the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations and promoting closer bilateral cooperation. Thanks to sound bilateral ties over the past several decades, China-France cooperation has reached many milestones and still has great potential, officials and business leaders noted.

In a speech at the launch event, Zhang Qiang, secretary of the BDA Working Committee, said that many French businesses have set up operations in the Beijing E-Town and have achieved fruitful results.

Jiang Yun, general-secretary of the China Overseas Development Association, said that while there have been some “fluctuations” in China-EU ties recently, both sides should “remain steadfast in our commitment to China-France and China-Europe cooperation, given the huge potential and winwin nature of cooperation.”

“There are new things and new industries, which inevitably bring some challenges because of different understandings and positions on new things, but if we establish a dialogue mechanism, invite all parties including those from Europe to participate in areas such as new-energy vehicles, and create win-win results, I think we can overcome the current challenges,” Jiang said.

Bilateral trade in 2023 reached 555.11 billion yuan ($77.34 billion), per official data.