Xi–Macron Talks in Beijing
“Friendly, candid and productive” Talk, China reiterates market openness and signals readiness for deeper cooperation with France
Chinese President Xi met with Macron on December 4 in Beijing. Macron is currently paying a state visit to China. As a result, both sides have signed multiple cooperation documents in nuclear energy, agriculture and food, education, and ecological environment.
The talks sent a clear signal of mutual trust and reciprocal openness in the economic and trade sphere. The Chinese side stated its readiness to increase imports of high-quality French products and to welcome more French companies to operate in China, while expressing the hope that France will in turn provide Chinese companies with a fair environment and stable expectations. President Macron responded positively, welcoming more Chinese investment in France and pledging to offer a “fair and non-discriminatory business environment.”
In recent years, within the EU’s “triple approach” to China – partner, competitor, and systemic rival – the “systemic rival” dimension has often been overemphasized. This has led to an overemphasis on securities in many areas of potential cooperation, including trade and technology, thereby increasing both the cost and uncertainty of cooperation. France, as a core EU member, has emphasized this time on a “fair and non-discriminatory” environment, which can be seen as a correction to that tendency. In this sense, France is beginning to approach its relationship with China in a more positive and pragmatic way.
The breakthrough at the strategic level is particularly noteworthy. Macron “fully agrees” with China’s positions on global governance and a more balanced global economy. He stated:
France fully agrees with President Xi’s views on reforming and improving global governance and promoting a more balanced global economy, and is willing to strengthen coordination with China, jointly shoulder the responsibilities of major countries, uphold multilateralism, and step up cooperation in fields such as climate change response, biodiversity protection, and artificial intelligence governance, so as to contribute to world peace and prosperity.
France is thus not only seeking cooperation with China on technical issues, but is also finding common ground with Beijing on strategic agendas such as “reforming global governance” and “promoting a more balanced global economy.” In the current context, this opens up more space for China–France and, more broadly, China–EU cooperation on higher-level, systemic issues.
After the talks, the two leaders jointly met with Chinese and foreign journalists. President Xi described the meeting as “friendly, candid, and productive友好坦诚、富有成果” and, when outlining China’s future development plans, emphasized that China will continue to focus on expanding domestic demand and pursuing high-standard opening-up.
One of the key points, in my view, is Xi’s statement to “facilitate reasonable and orderly cross-border flows of industrial and supply chains引导产业链供应链合理有序跨境布局.”(it’s part of a very key concern of Europe) This suggests that China has no intention of acting as a “dumping power.” Instead, it seeks to optimize global industrial and supply chain structures, while consciously considering and balancing the interests of various parties. (Reuters reports that BYD is starting to place its factory in Spain) While the implementation of this layout will require further coordination at the ground levels, the very articulation of this goal already sends a positive signal for the next stage of China–EU cooperation in industrial and supply chains.
Below is the full official readout, with Xi’s remarks at the joint press release
Xi Jinping Holds Talks with French President Emmanuel Macron
On the morning of December 4, President Xi Jinping held talks with French President Emmanuel Macron, who is in China on a state visit, at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing.
Xi Jinping pointed out that both China and France are independent major countries with vision and a strong sense of responsibility, and are constructive forces for advancing a multipolar world and promoting unity and cooperation for humanity. At present, the world is undergoing changes unseen in a century at an accelerating pace, and once again humanity stands at a crossroads. China and France should demonstrate their sense of responsibility, uphold the banner of multilateralism, and firmly stand on the right side of history. China is willing to work with France, starting from the fundamental interests of the two peoples and the long-term interests of the international community, to adhere to equal dialogue and open cooperation, so that the China–France comprehensive strategic partnership will move forward more steadily and soundly in the “new cycle,” fully demonstrating its strategic value and making new contributions to promoting a multipolar world that is equal and orderly and an economic globalization that is inclusive and beneficial to all.
Xi Jinping stressed that regardless of how the external environment changes, China and France should always display the strategic vision and strategic autonomy befitting major countries, understand and support each other on issues concerning their respective core interests and major concerns, and safeguard the political foundation of China–France relations. The Fourth Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China reviewed and adopted the proposals for the 15th Five-Year Plan, outlining a blueprint for China’s development over the next five years and providing the world with a “list of opportunities.” China and France should seize these opportunities, expand the scope of cooperation, consolidate traditional cooperation in such areas as aviation, aerospace, and nuclear energy, and tap the potential for cooperation in green economy, digital economy, biomedicine, artificial intelligence, and new energy. China is willing to import more high-quality French products and welcomes more French enterprises to invest in China, while also hoping that France will provide Chinese companies with a fair and stable business environment. The peoples of China and France have a natural affinity for each other; the two sides should deepen exchanges and cooperation in culture, education, science and technology, and at the local level, and continue to write new and colorful chapters in people-to-people and cultural exchanges.
Xi Jinping emphasized that the world today is far from peaceful, with multiple hotspots flaring up and proving complex and difficult to resolve. China and France, both founding members of the United Nations and permanent members of the UN Security Council, should practice genuine multilateralism, safeguard the international system with the United Nations at its core and the international order underpinned by international law, strengthen communication and coordination on the political settlement of disputes and the promotion of world peace and stability, and work together for reform and improvement of global governance. At present, there are many imbalances in the world, such as the development gap between the Global North and South and the insufficient representation of developing countries in international financial institutions. All countries should shoulder common responsibilities and coordinate their actions to jointly promote a global economic governance system that is fairer, more just, and more reasonable. Over the past 50 years, China–EU exchanges and cooperation have been mutually beneficial and have served both sides well. Industrial and supply chains among countries are deeply intertwined, and openness and cooperation bring opportunities and development, while “decoupling and severing supply chains” means self-isolation. Protectionism cannot solve the problems arising from the adjustment of the global industrial structure; instead, it will worsen the international trade environment. China and the EU should maintain the positioning of a partnership, advance cooperation with an open attitude, and ensure that China–EU relations develop along the right track of strategic autonomy, cooperation, and mutual benefit.
Macron said that France and China maintain close high-level exchanges and have always trusted and respected each other. France attaches great importance to its relations with China, firmly adheres to the one-China policy, and is willing to continue deepening the France–China comprehensive strategic partnership. France welcomes China’s robust economic development and remains committed to openness and cooperation to bring more opportunities to the world. It is ready to work with China to promote mutual investment, strengthen cooperation in economy and trade, renewable energy and other fields, and deepen people-to-people and cultural exchanges. France welcomes more Chinese enterprises to invest in France and is committed to providing a fair and non-discriminatory business environment. France is dedicated to promoting the sound and stable development of Europe–China relations and believes that Europe and China should adhere to dialogue and cooperation, and that Europe should achieve strategic autonomy. In the face of an unstable global geopolitical landscape and shocks to the multilateral order, cooperation between France and China is all the more important and indispensable. France fully agrees with President Xi’s views on reforming and improving global governance and promoting a more balanced global economy, and is willing to strengthen coordination with China, jointly shoulder the responsibilities of major countries, uphold multilateralism, and step up cooperation in fields such as climate change response, biodiversity protection, and artificial intelligence governance, so as to contribute to world peace and prosperity.
The two heads of state exchanged views on the Ukraine crisis. Xi Jinping noted that China supports all efforts conducive to peace and will continue to play a constructive role in its own way in seeking a political settlement of the crisis. China supports European countries in playing their due role in promoting the building of a balanced, effective, and sustainable European security architecture.
After the talks, the two heads of state jointly witnessed the signing of multiple cooperation documents in such areas as nuclear energy, agriculture and food, education, and ecological environment.
The two heads of state also jointly met with Chinese and foreign journalists.
Before the talks, Xi Jinping and his wife Peng Liyuan held a welcoming ceremony for Macron and his wife Brigitte in the North Hall of the Great Hall of the People.
As Macron arrived, a guard of honor lined up to pay tribute. The two heads of state stepped onto the reviewing platform as the military band played the national anthems of China and France, and a 21-gun salute was fired at Tiananmen Square. Macron, accompanied by Xi Jinping, reviewed the honor guard of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army and watched the march-past.
At noon the same day, Xi Jinping and Peng Liyuan hosted a welcoming banquet for President Macron and his wife in the Golden Hall of the Great Hall of the People.
Wang Yi attended the above events.
President Xi Jinping and French President Emmanuel Macron jointly met the press after their talks
On the morning of December 4, 2025, President Xi Jinping and French President Emmanuel Macron jointly met the press after their talks.
Xi Jinping noted that he welcomes President Macron’s fourth state visit to China. The two sides held friendly, candid and productive discussions. Both agreed that as independent major countries, China and France, in the face of a turbulent and intertwined international situation, should uphold multilateralism, adhere to equal dialogue and open cooperation, fully demonstrate the strategic value and global impact of the China–France comprehensive strategic partnership, and promote a multipolar world that is equal and orderly as well as an economic globalization that is inclusive and beneficial to all. The two sides agreed to focus on the following four areas of work:
First, enhancing political mutual trust. No matter how the external environment may change, the two sides should always demonstrate strategic autonomy and vision befitting major countries, and show mutual understanding and support on issues concerning each other’s core interests and major concerns.
Second, expanding practical cooperation. The two sides will consolidate traditional cooperation in such areas as aviation, aerospace and nuclear energy, and expand cooperation in emerging fields including the green economy, digital economy, biomedicine and artificial intelligence. They will promote the balanced development of bilateral economic and trade relations, increase two-way investment, and provide enterprises of both countries with a fair, transparent, non-discriminatory and predictable business environment.
Third, promoting people-to-people exchanges. Building on last year’s successful China–France Year of Culture and Tourism, the two sides will deepen exchanges and cooperation in such areas as culture, education, science and technology, and at the subnational level, and will launch a new round of cooperation on giant panda conservation.
Fourth, advancing the reform and improvement of global governance. The two sides will strengthen strategic communication and coordination, uphold the international system with the United Nations at its core and the international order underpinned by international law, and promote global governance in a more just and equitable direction.
Xi Jinping pointed out that the world today is far from peaceful, with international political disputes and conflicts flaring up in multiple regions and remaining complex and difficult to resolve. On the Ukraine crisis, China supports all efforts conducive to peace and hopes that all parties will, through dialogue and negotiation, reach a fair, lasting and binding peace agreement that is acceptable to all parties concerned. China will continue to play a constructive role in seeking a political settlement of the crisis, while firmly opposing any irresponsible acts of shifting blame or smearing others. China and France will work together to promote an early, comprehensive, just and lasting solution to the Palestinian question. China will provide 100 million US dollars in assistance to Palestine to help alleviate the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and support Gaza’s recovery and reconstruction.
Xi Jinping stressed that opening up is a fundamental state policy of China, and the door to China will only open wider. During the 15th Five-Year Plan period, China will advance high-quality development by deepening reforms across the board, further implementing the strategy of expanding domestic demand, widening market access, and opening up more sectors, and facilitating reasonable and orderly cross-border flows of industrial and supply chains. This will create broader opportunities for practical cooperation between China and France and for the growth of China-France relations. China looks forward to working with France to jointly promote development, safeguard peace, and seek a future of shared benefit. We are ready to move steadily in the direction of building a community with a shared future for mankind.
Wang Yi attended the above events.