In a significant diplomatic engagement, Chinese President Xi Jinping and French President Emmanuel Macron have pledged to deepen bilateral relations during Macron’s state visit to Beijing. The two leaders emphasized the importance of major-country responsibility in addressing global challenges during their talks at the Great Hall of the People on Thursday.
President Macron’s delegation, comprising over 80 members including several ministers and more than 30 CEOs of major French corporations, arrived in Beijing on Wednesday for this fourth state visit since 2017. The itinerary includes both political discussions in the capital and cultural engagements in Sichuan province.
The bilateral meeting yielded substantial outcomes, with both presidents personally witnessing the signing of multiple cooperation agreements spanning nuclear energy, agricultural food products, education, and ecological environmental protection. These agreements signal a broadening of the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two nations.
President Xi articulated China’s perspective on current global dynamics, noting that “as changes unseen in a century accelerate, humanity stands at a crossroads facing critical directional choices.” He called for China and France to jointly uphold multilateralism and position themselves on “the right side of history” during this transformative period.
The timing of this visit carries particular symbolic significance, marking the commencement of a new 60-year cycle (known as jiazi in Chinese tradition) in Sino-French relations. This follows last year’s celebration of the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries.
President Xi emphasized the complementary nature of China’s 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-2030) and French economic interests, noting that the plan presents “a list of opportunities” for international partners. He advocated for expanded cooperation while criticizing protectionist tendencies, stating that “openness and cooperation bring development opportunities, while decoupling and supply chain fragmentation lead to isolation.
As permanent members of the UN Security Council and founding UN members, both leaders committed to practicing “true multilateralism” and upholding the international legal order. They specifically addressed the need for improved global economic governance, noting current imbalances between developed and developing nations in international financial institutions.
The discussions also covered China-Europe relations broadly, with President Xi characterizing the past 50 years of exchanges as “mutually beneficial and contributing to each other’s success.” He urged maintaining the partnership positioning between China and Europe with “strategic autonomy and win-win cooperation” at its core.