President Xi Jinping and French President Emmanuel Macron deepened their diplomatic engagement through a symbolic meeting at the 2,000-year-old Dujiangyan irrigation system in Chengdu on Friday. This unconventional summit location, marking their second encounter during Macron’s three-day state visit, provided a profound backdrop for discussing global governance principles rooted in ancient wisdom.
President Xi articulated how the ancient hydraulic achievement embodies China’s historical philosophy of harmonious coexistence with nature, emphasizing its continuing relevance to modern statecraft. ‘This spirit still offers insights for state governance today,’ Xi remarked, highlighting the Chinese nation’s enduring values of adaptation, perseverance and innovation.
The two leaders recognized their nations as representing distinct civilizational traditions that share fundamental aspirations. ‘China and France, as two major nations distinguished by their histories and cultures, can make greater contributions to global peace, stability and human progress through dialogue and cooperation,’ Xi stated, particularly noting both countries’ spirit of independence stemming from profound cultural heritage.
President Macron acknowledged the significance of cultural understanding in bilateral relations, praising Chinese diligence and wisdom while emphasizing France’s commitment to strengthening coordination with China amid global uncertainties. ‘Given the rapidly evolving international landscape full of uncertainties, France is willing to strengthen communication and coordination with China,’ Macron affirmed.
The meeting produced substantial diplomatic outcomes, including agreements on exhibiting Sichuan’s Sanxingdui artifacts in France and joint statements addressing global governance, climate response, nuclear energy cooperation, and regional conflicts. Experts noted that choosing culturally significant locations beyond capitals expands the relationship’s breadth, particularly in people-to-people and cultural engagement, while providing leaders more time for strategic communication essential for building political mutual trust.
This meeting continued a established pattern of unconventional summit diplomacy between the two leaders, following previous encounters in Shanghai’s Yuyuan Garden (2019) and Guangzhou’s Pine Garden (2023) during Macron’s earlier visits to China.