【China Focus Face-to-Face】Macron and von der Leyen visited China at the same time, what is the impact of the new interaction between China and France and China and Europe?

Beijing, 4 Apr (ZXS) -- Macron and von der Leyen visited China at the same time.

Authors: Guo Chaokai, Xie Yanbing, Ma Shuaisha

At the invitation of Chinese President Xi Jinping, French President Emmanuel Macron paid a state visit to China from April 4 to 5. As agreed between China and the EU, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen visited China from April 7 to 4.

This is Macron's third visit to China since becoming president of France, and the first of his second presidential term. As a permanent member of the UN Security Council and a representative of Eastern and Western civilizations, how China-France relations develop is related to global strategic stability and security, and the latest interaction between the two countries has also attracted the attention of the world.

Macron and von der Leyen visited China at the same time, how will the practical cooperation between China and France and China and Europe further affect international and regional economic development? In the current chaotic situation, how should China, France and China and Europe build consensus and promote the process of political settlement of the Ukrainian crisis? China News Agency's "China Focus Face-to-Face" invited Cui Hongjian, researcher of the China Institute of International Studies and director of the Institute of European Studies, to give an interpretation.

Cui Hongjian, researcher at the China Institute of International Studies and director of the Institute of European Studies. Photo by China News Agency reporter Tian Yuhao

China News Agency: French President Emmanuel Macron and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen both visited China from April 4 to 5. Some voices pointed out that the two began their trip to China at the same time to a certain extent broke diplomatic conventions and was a relatively rare diplomatic arrangement. What do you think about this?

Cui Hongjian: French President Emmanuel Macron's visit to China invited the President of the European Commission to accompany him in advance, which broke diplomatic practice to a certain extent. In the context of the changing internal political ecology in Europe, Macron's invitation to von der Leyen to visit China with him has his considerations, and he hopes that through this visit, the two pairs of relations between China and France and China and Europe will form a positive interaction.

Von der Leyen's visit to China in more than three years as President of the European Commission is of great significance to her and to the EU. China and the EU are comprehensive strategic partnerships, following the visit of European Council President Michel to China in December last year, von der Leyen's visit as the head of another major EU institution can further help Europe to have a more comprehensive and objective understanding of China and China-EU relations.

This innovative change in diplomacy has brought some new opportunities to China-France and China-EU relations. Judging from the entire visit, the visit of the two European leaders has helped all parties better understand China to a certain extent and deeply understand the real value of developing China-France and China-EU relations.

China News Agency: During Macron's visit to China, President Xi Jinping held talks with him, jointly planned and led the future development of China-France relations, and exchanged in-depth views on major international and regional hotspot issues. How do you see Sino-French cooperation and its international implications?

Cui Hongjian: Sino-French cooperation plays an irreplaceable role in bilateral relations, between China and Europe, or between China and Western countries.

Historically, China and France have a long history of exchanges. France is the first Western power to establish diplomatic relations with New China, and the relationship between the two countries has a long history, and at the same time, Sino-French relations also have a strategic height that is difficult to reach in other bilateral relations.

During Macron's visit to China, President Xi Jinping pointed out that France is a "big country with a tradition of independence and self-determination" and stressed that the two sides should "adhere to the general direction of stability, reciprocity, pioneering and upward China-France comprehensive strategic partnership."

As a major European country, France's China policy will have a great influence on the EU's China policy. Against the background of the United States trying to win over European countries and engage in the so-called "China camp", France continues to adhere to the tradition of independent diplomacy and continues to strengthen cooperation and exchanges with China, which is of great significance and value to helping the world get rid of the trap of the so-called "new cold war" and avoid falling into a state of bloc confrontation.

At the same time, bilateral cooperation between China and France is based on bilateral cooperation in various fields such as economic and trade cooperation and people-to-people exchanges. Over the past few years, bilateral trade and investment between China and France have been on a steady rise. The momentum of the growth of bilateral trade volume between China and France in 2022 shows that economic and trade cooperation between China and France is in the interests of both sides and will benefit the people of both sides.

As permanent members of the UN Security Council and two world powers, China and France not only have the responsibility to develop bilateral relations, but also have the responsibility to make this healthy bilateral relationship better benefit the region and the international community.

On the afternoon of April 4, Chinese President Xi Jinping held talks with French President Emmanuel Macron, who is on a state visit to China, at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. After the talks, the two heads of state jointly met with Chinese and foreign journalists. Photo by Sheng Jiapeng, reporter of China News Agency

China News Agency: During the talks, President Xi Jinping pointed out that "a new meeting of the three high-level dialogue mechanisms of China-France strategy, economy, finance and people-to-people exchanges will be held this year." How do you see the full resumption of the dialogue mechanism between the two sides? China and France have signed a series of important cooperation agreements covering many fields, why are the two sides focusing on cooperation in these fields, and how will China-France practical cooperation affect regional economic development?

Cui Hongjian: Macron's visit to China has achieved at least three goals through in-depth exchanges with Chinese leaders and the results of dialogues at all levels. The first is stability. After the changes in the situation in recent years, Sino-French relations need to be further stabilized on the basis of political mutual trust.

The second is reboot. Due to the epidemic, various dialogue and exchange mechanisms between China and France have been held online in the past three years. Taking this meeting between the leaders of the two countries as an opportunity, the dialogue mechanism between China and France in three major areas will be fully restarted. This will help China and France build more consensus at the strategic level.

The third is to advance. Macron's delegation included many people from business, trade and cultural circles, which also shows that France attaches great importance to exchanges and cooperation with China in the economic, trade and cultural fields. In addition to reaching a series of political consensuses, the leaders of the two countries also made efforts to promote economic and trade cooperation.

These areas of cooperation are based on the previous economic and trade cooperation between the two sides on the one hand, and also focus on the respective economic and social development directions of the two sides. Previously, France and the European side put forward their own exploration goals and proposed the direction of accelerating the green transformation. China has always been at the forefront of the world in addressing climate change and achieving green development, so both sides have a very strong consensus on both policy stance and industrial development direction. In areas such as green energy and digital economy, the two sides will have more and more room for cooperation in the future.

China News Agency: We have noted that people-to-people exchanges are also a highlight of Sino-French exchanges. President Xi Jinping said that China is willing to take the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and France next year, the China-France Year of Cultural Tourism and the Paris Olympic Games as an opportunity to strengthen cooperation in related fields. What are the positive implications of Sino-French exchanges and cooperation in the field of humanities?

Cui Hongjian: China and France are representatives of the two major civilizations of the East and the West, and when President Xi Jinping visited the EU headquarters in 2014, he proposed to view China-EU relations from a strategic height, combine the two major forces, two markets and two civilizations of China and Europe, and jointly build the four major partnerships of peace, growth, reform and civilization between China and Europe. Guided by this goal, in recent years, China, France and China and Europe have attached great importance to exchanges and cooperation in the humanities and social fields, and pursued mutual learning between civilizations.

This time, not only did the delegation led by President Macron include representatives of cultural circles, but the two sides also agreed to restart the people-to-people exchange and dialogue mechanism as soon as possible and implement it in some specific projects. On the day of President Macron's arrival in Beijing, the 2024th "Sino-French Cultural Spring" art festival was opened. France will host the Paris Olympic Games in <>, and China and France also have a good foundation for cooperation in sports.

The purpose of people-to-people and social exchanges is to further implement the good atmosphere of cooperation between the two governments to the people. In recent years, with the increasingly close exchanges between China and France, more and more Chinese tourists have traveled to Europe and France, and more and more French goods and French cultural products have appeared in the Chinese market. Such exchanges can help people in both countries better understand each other's cultural and social conditions.

China News Agency: This is Macron's third state visit to China since he became French president. On his previous two visits to China, Macron visited Xi'an and Shanghai, and this time he visited Guangzhou. In your opinion, what is the significance and highlight of such an itinerary?

Cui Hongjian: Previously, when President Macron came to visit, he showed great interest in visiting other parts of China. I think there are two main reasons why Guangdong was finally chosen this time: First, as the "bridgehead" of China's reform and opening up, Guangdong plays an important role and position in China's economic development, especially foreign trade. Many French companies use Guangzhou as their first destination when they land in the Chinese market. Second, Guangdong is historically the first area in China to open to the outside world, and there are many historical relics of exchanges between China and the West and between China and France. The French side believes that visiting Guangdong can better experience the historical connotation of China-France relations, and at the same time, it can better reflect the strong cultural and public support foundation of Sino-French bilateral cooperation.

China News Agency: This year marks the 20th anniversary of the establishment of a comprehensive strategic partnership between China and the EU, and European leaders have recently visited China. Von der Leyen is the second EU institutional leader to visit China, following European Council President Michel at the end of last year. What signal does the recent frequent interaction between China and the EU bring? In the future, how should China and the EU properly handle differences, inject new impetus into China-EU relations, and provide stability to the world?

Cui Hongjian: As soon as we enter the spring of 2023, China-EU relations have ushered in a climax. Following the visit of Spanish Prime Minister Alexis Sanchez, President Macron and President von der Leyen will visit China, followed by a number of European leaders. Behind the warmth of China-EU exchanges, two points are worth noting:

First, after three years of the pandemic and the Ukraine crisis, the demand for strengthening cooperation with China is now gradually rising in Europe. Especially in the economic front, Europe is facing the impact of inflation and energy crisis, to find stable growth expectations, looking at the world China may be the first choice. In this context, European countries have unprecedented enthusiasm for strengthening economic and trade cooperation with China. At present, the EU side has shown its enthusiasm for waiting for no time and hopes to win over the cooperation opportunities missed by China in the past period.

Second, Europe is facing unprecedented challenges at this stage, and geopolitical conflict factors brought about by the Ukraine crisis are constantly affecting Europe. In this context, Europe hopes to use the influence of China's responsible major power to find a way out of the crisis and help Europe achieve stability as soon as possible. Only on a stable basis will it be possible for Europe to obtain the conditions for continued development.

On the afternoon of April 4, Chinese President Xi Jinping met with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. Photo by Sheng Jiapeng, reporter of China News Agency

China News Agency: In recent years, the EU has introduced a series of trade policy tools, and protectionism has risen, which has affected China-EU relations. President Xi Jinping pointed out at the trilateral meeting between China, France and the EU that "China and the EU should maintain two-way openness, provide a fair and non-discriminatory business environment for each other's enterprises, and avoid politicizing and securitizing economic and trade issues." How should China-EU economic and trade cooperation maximize benefits in the future?

Cui Hongjian: During von der Leyen's visit, one of the key directions for her exchange of views with Chinese leaders is how to overcome the current difficulties and obstacles and continue to move forward in economic and trade cooperation between China and the EU.

In the past two years, in order to reflect its so-called "sovereignty", the European side has intensively introduced laws and regulations in some fields, and protectionism within the EU has gained momentum.

During this visit, through exchanges with Chinese leaders and dialogues at all levels with China, von der Leyen will have a more realistic and objective understanding of China's policy, investment and business environment. This will help the EU side further enhance its confidence in opening up the Chinese market and carrying out more cooperation with China. As long as close communication and interaction between high-level officials and continuous optimization of the environment by various departments of the two sides can further stimulate the enthusiasm of the two sides for cooperation in the economic and trade field, so that Chinese enterprises can have more enthusiasm to promote future cooperation.

On the afternoon of April 4, Chinese President Xi Jinping held a trilateral meeting between France, France and Europe with French President Emmanuel Macron and European Commission President von der Leyen at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. Photo by Sheng Jiapeng, reporter of China News Agency

China News Agency: The crisis in Ukraine is one of the key topics of Macron's and von der Leyen's visit. How should China, the EU, China and France further build consensus and promote the process of political settlement of the Ukraine crisis?

Cui Hongjian: One of the concerns of Macron and von der Leyen's visit is whether they can coordinate with China on the solution of the Ukrainian crisis and find consensus. I believe that through exchanges among leaders, China and the EU have made positive progress in resolving the Ukrainian crisis and seeking consensus.

China previously issued the document "China's Position on the Political Settlement of the Ukrainian Crisis". During the visit of Macron and von der Leyen, it can be found that China's 12-point position has many needs of legitimate parties and Europe, such as "nuclear weapons cannot be used, nuclear war cannot be fought", and "increase humanitarian assistance to relevant regions and improve the humanitarian situation", which will trigger positive reactions from the European people.

This interactive exchange between China, France and China and Europe on the political settlement of the Ukrainian crisis is an important step towards a peaceful settlement of the Ukrainian crisis. It is believed that as China, France and China and Europe have more and more consensus on resolving the Ukraine crisis, they will have sufficient ability to translate consensus into common action.

China News Agency: The outside world has noticed that China's diplomacy has recently pressed the "accelerator button" and ushered in a wave of diplomatic upsurge. After the National People's Congress and the National People's Congress, President Xi Jinping visited Russia. Political leaders from Singapore, Malaysia, Spain, France and other countries have visited China. What do you think of this wave of Chinese diplomacy? What are the characteristics of China's current diplomacy?

Cui Hongjian: In the post-epidemic era, the international community's demand for cooperation with China has not been affected by the epidemic, but has a concentrated outbreak. They hope to strengthen cooperation with China, on the one hand, hoping to take advantage of China's stable and good economic growth momentum to bring more opportunities for its economic development, and on the other hand, hoping to help them solve and respond to regional and international problems.

Recently, China has had frequent interaction with the international community, and it is believed that with the advancement of major-country diplomacy with Chinese characteristics, and as China further clarifies the direction of world multipolarization, economic globalization and democracy in international relations, the next "spring" of China's diplomacy will become the norm, and China's diplomacy will be "like spring in all seasons" in the future. (End)