Paris (TDI): French President Emmanuel Macron is set to embark on his fourth state visit to China from December 3–5, at the invitation of Chinese President Xi Jinping, the Chinese Foreign Ministry said on Monday.
The trip follows President Xi’s visit to France last year, marking 60 years of diplomatic relations between the two countries.
“France was the first major Western nation to establish formal diplomatic relations with the People’s Republic of China. The China-France partnership has a rich history, built on shared values, and carries significant responsibilities,” Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Lin Jian, said.
Over the decades, the two nations have developed into comprehensive strategic partners, with bilateral trade reaching nearly $80 billion.
President Xi will hold talks with Macron to shape the future of bilateral relations and exchange views on pressing regional and international issues.
Macron’s visit to Beijing comes at a time when France – the EU’s second-largest economy, faces multiple foreign policy challenges, including the war in Ukraine, ongoing trade tensions from Trump’s tariffs, and broader economic disputes between China and the European Union.
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Economic matters are expected to dominate discussions, with France hosting the 2026 G7 summit and China chairing the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum.
In May, Xi expressed Beijing’s support for greater strategic autonomy for the European Union, reflecting China’s view of Europe as an independent force in a multipolar world.
Spokesperson Jian further said that China-France relations boast a rich history, unique shared values, and carry significant responsibilities. He noted that the two countries have maintained productive cooperation and effective coordination on multilateral issues.
The visit will focus on enhancing economic, technological, and cultural cooperation, while also providing an opportunity to discuss global security and regional stability.
“Against the backdrop of a rapidly changing global environment, China is prepared to use this visit to enhance strategic dialogue with France, expand practical cooperation, foster closer multilateral coordination, and make further progress in the comprehensive China-France strategic partnership,” Lin said.
Minahil Khurshid holds a Master's in Peace and Conflict Studies from NUST. She is passionate about current affairs, public policy, and geopolitics.
