In a remarkable diplomatic gesture, Xi Jinping personally accompanied Macron to the southwestern city of Chengdu — a move seldom extended by Beijing to foreign leaders.
This symbolic hospitality — from morning jogs in Jincheng Lake Park to a visit to the historic Dujiangyan dam — signals more than cordiality. It underscores China’s renewed interest in cultivating deeper ties with France and, by extension, reshaping its relationship with Europe.
For a region accustomed to diplomatic formalities, this gesture carries weight: it shows that Beijing is willing to meet foreign partners beyond the confines of protocol-heavy Beijing receptions.
🤝 What Was Agreed — Broad, Strategic Cooperation
During the Beijing leg of the trip, Macron and Xi signed a package of 12 cooperation agreements covering areas such as nuclear energy, population aging, ecological protection, and even cultural and “panda diplomacy.”
Beyond the headlines, they pledged to strengthen political trust, deepen cultural and educational exchanges, and expand pragmatic collaboration.
Xi described China and France as “visionary and responsible countries” that can jointly uphold multilateralism, contribute to global governance reform, and foster cooperation in emerging fields such as green economy, digital technology, biotech and new energy.
Macron, for his part, emphasized the need for trade rebalancing, open cooperation, and a renewal of the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries.
🌍 Why This Matters — For Europe, China, and Global Diplomacy
- Reaffirming multipolarity: In an era of rising global tensions and shifting allegiances, a stronger China–France axis can model cooperative multilateralism — bridging Europe and Asia. The two nations’ commitment to dialogue and shared global responsibility may help steer world order toward balance, not polarization.
- Diversifying Europe’s economic ties: For the EU, stronger engagement with China via individual partners like France may offer trade and investment levers — potentially countering overreliance on single blocs or adversarial trade partners.
- Soft power and cultural diplomacy: From “panda diplomacy” to exchanges in education, science, and culture — these softer edges can foster long-term goodwill and mutual understanding beyond immediate economic gains.
- A test of trust and diplomacy: Through this visit, China signals that despite economic or geopolitical differences (trade imbalances, strategic competition), it’s open to deepening ties — offering France (and by extension Europe) a chance to engage pragmatically rather than ideologically.
✅ What Comes Next — From Promise to Implementation
A successful visit on paper is not the end — it’s only the beginning. For this visit to yield real benefits:
- Implementation of signed agreements — commitments in nuclear cooperation, green technologies, population aging, etc., must translate into real projects, technology transfer, and sustainable collaboration.
- Balanced trade and fair access — France (and the EU) should push for trade policies that ensure Chinese imports don’t undercut local industries, and that French firms have stable access to Chinese markets.
- Deepening people-to-people ties — cultural exchange, academic partnerships, and public diplomacy will cement long-term relations beyond government corridors.
- Maintaining independent foreign policy — France and Europe must use engagements like this to preserve autonomy, not get pulled into broader rivalries or geopolitical pressure games.
✍️ Final Thoughts — A Step Forward for Global Cooperation
The visit of Macron to China and his rare out-of-Beijing journey with Xi is more than a good photo op — it’s a strategic signal. It suggests that China and a major European power like France still believe in diplomacy, dialogue, and cooperation — at a time when global tensions risk pushing the world toward fragmentation.
If handled wisely, this rapprochement could show the world a third way: not confrontation, not blind alignment, but constructive partnership grounded in mutual interest, respect for sovereignty, and a shared commitment to global stability.
For France, Europe, and China — and for the rest of the world — this may be a small but meaningful step toward a more cooperative, multipolar global order.
References
Xi woos Macron with sightseeing trip but little in the way of deals
Macron urges Xi to help correct ‘unsustainable’ global trade imbalances
Pandas and ping-pong: Macron meets Xi in rare visit outside Beijing
Macron travels to China with slim hopes of
