Beijing (AFP)
Drones with foie gras, through the nuclear and ... jam, here is a list of key agreements signed during the visit to China of French President Emmanuel Macron, which ends Wednesday.
From official Chinese sources, these agreements, many of which refer to projects that have not been finalized, involve transactions totaling $ 15.1 billion (€ 13.6 billion). This figure has not been confirmed on the French side.
Energy - environment
- Paris and Beijing have called Wednesday to sign before January 31 a mega-contract for the construction of a used nuclear fuel recycling plant in China. In negotiation for a decade, the agreement is valued at more than 20 billion euros, more than half for the French Orano (ex-Areva).
- Suez will create several joint ventures with Chinese partners in the incineration of hazardous waste for a total of between 100 and 150 million euros.
- Cooperation between Engie and Beijing Clean Energy Enterprises for new energy investments worth 1.3 billion euros.
- GTT, a subsidiary of Engie, has signed a cooperation agreement for a LNG terminal and storage facility in Tianjin (east) as well as a pipeline of approximately 230 km to transport the gas to Beijing. This project, worth a total of 1 billion euros according to the Elysee, is "under review" by the Chinese Ministry of Commerce.
- Total will create several joint ventures with different Chinese partners in lithium-ion battery production, LNG distribution and solar power.
- Air Liquide has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Sinopec to accelerate the development of hydrogen mobility solutions in China, the world's largest mobility market.
Food
- The two countries will cooperate for the recognition by China of "zoning" in the fight against African swine fever (ASF). Objective: that France can continue to export pork even if the epizootic affects one of its regions (or "zone"). "The two heads of state agree to consider the establishment of a road map for this purpose as a priority," according to the Elysee.
- France obtains 20 export licenses for poultry, beef, pork and sausage companies.
- Extension to palmipeds and foie gras of the protocol defining the sanitary conditions for export of poultry to China.
- Construction in China of two new factories of jammaker Andros compotes, for 35 million euros.
- On the sidelines of Emmanuel Macron's visit, China and the EU signed an agreement on protected geographical indications (PGIs) which certify the origin of European products entering the Chinese market. It concerns 100 European PGIs including 26 French, mainly wines, spirits and cheeses.
Aeronautics and Space
- Order of 1 billion euros of Safran aircraft engines by a Chinese airline (Colorful Guizhou Airlines). Other similar contracts of nearly 3 billion euros "are in the final phase of negotiation", according to the Elysée.
- Memorandum to "promote synergies" between companies of both countries in airplanes, helicopters, drones and air traffic control systems. For "the first time, a civil helicopter engine will be co-developed with the Chinese", according to the president of Safran, Ross McInnes.
- Memorandum to "deepen industrial cooperation" of Airbus in China "in the coming years". The European aircraft manufacturer has a helicopter production site in Qingdao (east) and A320 aircraft in Tianjin (north). He plans to increase "his production rate to reach six devices per month by the end of 2019, an increase of 50%," he said in a statement. He will also make the interior fittings and paint part of the A350 widebody from the second half of 2020.
- Cooperation agreement on the French contribution to the Chinese mission Chang'e 6, which will bring back to Earth samples of lunar soil by 2023.
Commerce / Tourism
- Strategic partnership between the French hotel operator Accor and the Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba for the deployment of the Accor loyalty program (€ 810 million over five years).
- Agreement for the marketing of French Danone products by the Chinese online trading platform CFTEC for 272 million euros.
- Le Puy du Fou, the famous French theme park, announced on Monday that it will be established in China with a "village of time" and "a great night show" inspired by Chinese culture, for a budget of 230 millions of euros.
© 2019 AFP