Emmanuel Macron and Xi Jinping are in tune in Shanghai, for this second day of visit of the French president in China, Tuesday, November 5. At the Import Fair, both leaders called for stronger trade.

"We need a greater openness of China and its market," proclaimed the French head of state during the opening ceremony. For him, "much has been done in recent years" by Beijing, including "significant tariff cuts" or "reforms in the financial sector." But "we call for their consolidation and deepening," he added.

Emmanuel Macron, who was accompanied by bosses of major French companies, "spoke for long minutes to extol the merits of China," said Antoine Védeilhé, France 24 correspondent in the country. "The world needs China, but China also needs the world," said Emmanuel Macron, "he added.

"China's door will open ever larger," said Chinese President Xi Jinping, who opened the fair.

"China's door will open ever larger"

China is currently France's 7th largest customer and second largest supplier. The tricolor exports to this country grew by 11% last year and represented 21 billion euros.

"The trade war is only losers"

Emmanuel Macron also called for "firmly opposing protectionism and unilateralism" while Beijing is engaged in a standoff with Washington, for which a cautious optimism has emerged in recent weeks.

Without naming his American counterpart Donald Trump, he denounced the recourse "unilateral action, the tariff weapon and the law of the strongest," because "the trade war is only losers" weighing on the growth World.

"Cooperation Agenda"

For Emmanuel Macron, the EU and China must work on "an agenda of cooperation and harmony", beyond the "sometimes deep" differences between their two models.

"What young Chinese can be convinced of the interest of the opening of the international trade if it does not help him to live better, to feed himself better? Which young French can be convinced of the interest of the opening if it makes him more dependent on technological choices made elsewhere and less master of his destiny? ", he asked.

IGP Agreement

During the visit of the French stand at the fair with Emmanuel Macron, Xi Jinping was to savor a steak of Salers beef, considered among the tastiest.

French agribusiness companies hope to benefit from the agreement on protected geographical indications (PGI) to be signed Wednesday in Beijing between China and the European Union. It should help to better "protect the know-how", according to Emmanuel Macron, in 26 French PGIs ranging from Bordeaux wine to Comté cheese.

Beijing says $ 57.8 billion worth of contracts were signed during the first edition of the Shanghai Fair, held last year. But the foreign groups do not seem excited: only half of its members signed contracts on this occasion and "many" of them "have not been followed", according to a study of the European Chamber of Commerce in Shanghai.

With AFP