Sixty years after establishing diplomatic relations, China and France are looking to the future with renewed commitment. On Monday, Chinese President Xi Jinping met with French President Emmanuel Macron at the Elysée Palace in Paris. The two leaders agreed to strengthen strategic stability in their bilateral relations, explore potential for mutually beneficial cooperation, accelerate people-to-people exchanges, and build greater consensus on global cooperation.
“China and France have no geopolitical conflicts or clashes of fundamental interests,” President Xi emphasized during the meeting. “This means there is great potential to bring out the best in our relations.”
During the visit, the two countries signed nearly 20 cooperation agreements spanning green development, aviation, agri-food, commerce, and cultural exchanges. One notable initiative is the ‘French farm to Chinese dining table’ mechanism, which aims to bring more French cheese, ham, wine, and other quality agricultural products to Chinese consumers.
France currently stands as China’s largest source of agricultural imports from the European Union. In 2023, China imported 46.95 billion yuan (approximately $6.5 billion) worth of agricultural products from France, marking a 50.5 percent increase from 2019. French wine holds a prominent place in the Chinese market, accounting for roughly 30 percent of China’s wine imports.
“China is a very big market, so consumption plays a big role in the economy,” said Jerome Cottin-Bizonne, managing director of French wine and spirits group Pernod Ricard’s China division. “Chinese consumers’ appetite for more diversified offers is a great opportunity for French companies.”
The renewed cooperation between China and France reflects a mutual desire to deepen business relations and enhance cultural understanding. As the two nations celebrate six decades of diplomatic ties, these new agreements signal a commitment to building a shared future marked by collaboration and prosperity.
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Against headwinds, Xi-Macron meeting gives impetus to bilateral ties
cgtn.com
