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China expects “bigger” and “positive” developments from its ties with France ahead of a potential visit by French President Emmanuel Macron.
In an online meeting between Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and his French counterpart Catherine Colonna on Monday, Wang set high expectations for the development of bilateral relations, which have been strained in recent years amid tensions between China and the European Union.
“China would like to have frequent high-level exchanges with France, enhance our future planning, bolster the stability and predictability of China-France relations ... and push for bigger developments for our comprehensive strategic partnership in the coming year,” Wang said.
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Xi calls for French respect and cooperation in meeting with Macron
Wang added that he would like to see deeper cooperation in trade, agriculture, aviation, green energy, health, medicine and technology.
“China values the core position France holds in the European Union, and appreciates France for holding on to the principle of ‘EU strategic autonomy’,” he said.
Wang added that China-France relations had endured “changing conditions” amid complicated geopolitical and global financial challenges, and ties had generally been stable and showed signs of “positive developments”.
He said the meeting between Xi and Macron last month in Bali, Indonesia, “improved understanding and trust” and “expanded common ground and cooperation”. The meeting, held on the sidelines of the Group of 20 summit, was the first time the leaders held face-to-face talks in three years.
Colonna called on Wang to continue “rebalancing the Euro-Chinese relationship towards greater economic reciprocity” and encouraged China to open its markets further to European investors, according to a statement from the French foreign ministry. The two officials also discussed North Korea.
While Macron has not confirmed whether he will make a trip to China, he said after the G20 meeting he intended to visit Beijing in the new year.
According to the French statement, Colonna “emphasised the role China could play in leading Russia to stop its war of aggression in Ukraine”. Macron has also said Xi could play a mediating role to prevent the resumption of large-scale ground operations in Ukraine.
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Beijing and EU powers have been looking for ways to make progress in relations between China and individual European countries as well as with the bloc as a whole.
Tensions have flared over myriad issues, including Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Europe’s sanctioning of Chinese officials over human rights conditions in Xinjiang, an unofficial Chinese blockade of Lithuanian goods and spiralling concerns over Taiwan.
However, despite lengthy talks between the two sides, the EU pushed ahead in two World Trade Organization suits against China this month. Sanctions on Chinese officials are also expected to be renewed for another year.
Beijing has consistently urged European powers to exercise “strategic autonomy”, meaning the EU should be able to operate independently and depart from Washington’s hawkish policies on China.
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Macron has called for strategic autonomy since 2017, but he spoke of “strategic intimacy” with the US during his visit to Washington in early December.
Macron and US President Joe Biden renewed their strong alliance during the French leader’s state visit and said they would coordinate to face challenges from China.
However, the meeting appeared to do little to resolve the EU’s frustration over Washington’s latest trade policies to promote American manufacturing of essential goods, which could harm European exports.
Over the past two months, European Council president Charles Michel and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz have both visited Beijing to meet Xi.
More from South China Morning Post:
- Xi Jinping calls for French respect and cooperation in meeting with Macron
- Europe-US resolve on China proves short-lived ahead of key meetings in Beijing and Washington
- China urges Italy to play constructive role in relations with Europe
- China vows ‘continuity and stability’ in Europe policy ahead of German leader’s visit
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