On a visit to Beijing, Emmanuel Macron seeks to revive economic relations with China

Sébastien Le Belzic, edited by Alexandre Dalifard 06h29, 05 April 2023

Emmanuel Macron is on his way to Beijing, the French president's first visit to China in three years. A long-awaited visit on the Chinese side where we hope to convince the France of the merits of the Chinese position regarding the war in Ukraine but also to revive economic relations with France and more broadly with Europe. 53 major French bosses are part of the delegation accompanying Emmanuel Macron to China. Major contracts are to be signed on Thursday in energy, aeronautics and sustainable development.

Strengthening relations with France and the European Union

If China rolls out the red carpet for Emmanuel Macron, it is less to talk with him about Ukraine since Xi Jinping does not intend to review his support for Vladimir Putin. This visit is only to revive economic and trade relations with the France after three years of pandemic and Chinese border closures. "I think the fact that companies are joining the visit is a sign that the goal is not limited to other agendas, but that it is also about economic and trade cooperation," said Li Yong, an analyst at Chinese think tank D&C.

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As tensions mount with the United States, China hopes to strengthen its relations with France and beyond with the European Union, which remains its largest trading partner. For Paris, the challenge is rather to loosen a trade deficit that has become abysmal. The new French record sets at 55 billion euros for 2022.