France's Macron set to travel to China ahead of talks with Xi Jinping

France's Macron set to travel to China ahead of talks with Xi Jinping
President Macron holds state dinner for China's Xi in Paris, 6 May 2024.
Reuters

French President Emmanuel Macron is scheduled to visit China from 3 to 5 December 2025, during which he will meet Chinese President Xi Jinping.

The two leaders will discuss issues covering strategic, economic, and global issues.

The visit will include stops in Beijing and Chengdu, reflecting both diplomatic and regional engagement.

According to French and Chinese statements, the discussions will focus on strengthening the Franco‑Chinese strategic partnership.

On the agenda also are opportunities for deeper cooperation in trade, green development, technology, and global governance.

China hopes France can encourage the EU to adopt "positive and reasonable" policies on China and resolve trade differences through dialogue, Foreign Minister Wang Yi told France's top diplomat Emmanuel Bonne during a call on Thursday.

Moreover, global issues such as climate change, geopolitical tensions, and multilateral initiatives are likely to feature prominently on the agenda.

Economic and trade matters will also be central to the talks. With France preparing for its 2026 G7 presidency, the visit may examine trade relations, investment, and supply chain management between the two countries.

The visit comes at a time when Europe is reassessing its relationship with China amid global economic and geopolitical shifts.

Macron’s trip aims to further develop Franco‑Chinese relations and address major international matters and areas of cooperation. For Beijing, the visit shows that France and Europe remain key strategic partners.

The visit will provide "an opportunity to discuss the major issues at stake in the strategic partnership between France and China, as well as several major international issues and areas of cooperation aimed at resolving the global challenges of our time," the French President’s office said in a statement.

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