Dr. Marsela Musabelliu
After five years, the Chinese president returned for a state visit to Europe, where the red carpet was rolled out in Paris against the backdrop of a continental landscape that was very different from five years ago. Serbia and Hungary are the second and third stops on the agenda. Underscoring the enduring stability and positive momentum in relations between China and these three nations, despite global changes and challenges, it is clear that the foundations are being laid for a new chapter in China’s engagement with Europe.
The nuances of this presidential visit are varied, considering the destinations chosen, the evolving dynamics between China and the nations Xi visits, and the broader geopolitical and global implications. The choice of destinations for his visit has strategic and symbolic importance. As one of the prominent Western powers, France represents a crucial avenue for China to engage with the West. France’s openness to dialogue with China presents an opportunity to articulate China’s perspectives and foster bilateral cooperation.
China-France relations in focus
Historically central to China-West relations, France was the first major Western nation to establish diplomatic ties with China. Despite fluctuations in China-EU relations, China and France have maintained consistent cooperation on global governance issues, a testament to the importance of high-level diplomacy. Chinese President Xi Jinping emphasized the importance of China-France relations, calling them a beacon of cooperation between nations with different social systems. In a written statement before he arrived in Paris to “Le Figaro,” Xi emphasized the critical role of these relations and the rich history of intellectual exchange and welcomed the latest achievements in bilateral cooperation. Xi stressed the mutually beneficial nature of the deepening relationship, which enriches bilateral ties and contributes positively to global stability. Reflecting on the rich history linking the two nations, he highlighted General Charles de Gaulle’s visionary decision to forge a relationship with the “New China” amid the complexities of the Cold War era and lay the foundations for a partnership based on dialogue and cooperation.
Over the decades, and through joint efforts, China and France have cultivated effective strategic communication and historical practical cooperation, enriching exchanges between their peoples and cultures and harmonizing their voices in the global arena. The focus of Xi’s visit is evidence of the critical roles these permanent members of the United Nations Security Council are expected to play.
Their responsibilities extend beyond simple diplomacy; they are entrusted with stabilizing global industries and supply chains and can serve as beacons and guardians of world peace and stability. The potential for deepening cooperation between China and France knows no bounds; it is enough to consider that there are currently over 40,000 French people studying Chinese, and the background of future interests is visible. As France and the People’s Republic of China celebrate 60 years of diplomatic ties, Paris aims to establish itself as a reliable international partner, fostering friendly relations with Beijing.
China-EU and the Parisian epicenter of the continent
The enduring friendship between China and France not only strengthens their bilateral ties but also holds the potential to strengthen the broader China-EU relationship. As Xi and Macron engage in these significant discussions as global players, they can elevate their partnership to new heights, fostering more stable China-EU relations. France supports the idea of a strong Europe and strategic autonomy, which matches China’s desire for a multipolar world. The bilateral agenda between the EU and China has had many priorities over the years, depending on the times and international events. While European countries and the EU understand that cooperation with China is necessary for many issues, they still emphasize that China’s development brings economic and technological competition and political systems and governance models. Therefore, Europe has identified China as a cooperation partner, an economic competitor, and a systemic rival since 2019. This has had a somewhat negative impact on the formulation and implementation of Europe’s China policies. However, with this visit, it was noticed that Europe and some of its leaders are taking a different approach towards China, one that is to develop their comprehensive strategic partnership further. The time has come, and this high-level visit showed that the parties should sit at the negotiating table for more intensified cooperation.
China and Europe have broad and shared interests. Cooperation is more significant than competition, and unanimous opinions are more numerous than disagreements. China always approaches relations with Europe from a long-term strategic perspective, maintaining policy stability towards Europe. The engagements between China and Europe underline a broader trend of high-level exchanges, fostering deeper economic and diplomatic ties. Despite the challenges presented by the different narratives, both sides recognize the tremendous opportunities for cooperation.
Along these lines, Chinese President Xi Jinping, French President Emmanuel Macron, and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen gathered for a tripartite meeting at the Elysee Palace in Paris on May 6th. Xi expressed his pleasure at reuniting with them, stressing the importance of the trilateral meeting in enhancing the broader European significance of his visit. Xi portrayed Europe as a vital dimension in China’s diplomacy, a great power with distinct characteristics, and a crucial partner in its pursuit of modernization. He called for sustained dialogue, cooperation, strategic communication, trust-building, consensus-building, coordination, and concerted efforts to ensure stable and healthy growth in China-EU relations, contributing to global peace and development.
Later on, the focus was definitely on the Russia-Ukraine conflict. Xi clarified that China does not align itself with any side in the conflict but instead tries to play a constructive role in peace. China opposes attempts to use the Ukraine crisis to scapegoat or smear a third country or to stoke a new Cold War. He emphasized the necessity of negotiations to resolve conflicts, calling on all parties to resume dialogue to rebuild mutual trust. He expressed China’s support for establishing a balanced, practical, and stable security framework in Europe.
Xi and Macron…
President Xi has often spoken about the influence and exchanges between Chinese and French civilizations. It should also be said that some of the first-generation Chinese Communist Party leaders, such as Zhou Enlai and Deng Xiaoping, studied in France. Because of this, Xi said, “I developed a keen interest in French culture and particularly French history, philosophy, literature, and art when I was a young man.” He expressed how intellectuals from France inspired him. Reading Montesquieu, Voltaire, Rousseau, Diderot, Saint-Simon, Fourier, and Sartre has deepened his understanding of how progress of the mind propels progress in society, he said. Reading Montaigne, La Fontaine, Molière, Stendhal, Balzac, Hugo, Alexandre Dumas, George Sand, Flaubert, Alexandre Dumas fils, Maupassant, and Romain Rolland helped him better appreciate life with all its joys and sorrows, he added. Many young Chinese patriots were inspired by writings on the French Revolution, which is also the background of Hugo’s Les Miserables, one of Xi’s most quoted French masterpieces. Xi’s great positivity towards France and its social and human philosophy has been noticed widely in France and throughout Europe.
A central aspect of President Xi’s visit is engagement with French President Macron. France’s youngest leader since Napoleon, Macron, carries a long legacy of diplomacy. The other element between Xi and Macron is a personal approach, a rapport between the two not often seen with other leaders. During his visit to China in 2023, Xi Jinping invited Macron to the residence of the governor of Guangdong, a post held by Xi Jinping’s father. Macron invited President Xi Jinping to a corner of the Pyrenees mountains, where he spent much of his childhood with his grandmother, which is another personal gesture on Macron’s part. The affinity of the two was widely seen and commented upon in Europe and beyond.
On the other hand, Macron’s attitude towards China, especially in the context of global politics and security, adds to the complexity of the discussions. While Macron has emphasized France’s desire for autonomy in foreign policy, he also acknowledges the importance of cooperation with China on various fronts. This nuanced approach reflects France’s balancing act between its traditional alliances and emerging partnerships. During his visit last year, Macron in Beijing said that Europe should not follow the US policy on Taiwan. Even in the United States, it is agreed that Macron has emerged as an essential global leader, thanks not only to the EU’s influence on economic affairs but also to France’s unique position as a major power often aligned with the US. But he is maintaining its independence. To paraphrase one of those urban legends of dubious origin (generally attributed to Henry Kissinger), there is little doubt that when the President of the United States wants to call Europe, the international code he now uses is +33.
Finally, China has made it very clear that it has long wanted cooperative relations with Europe. And, of course, there is no vital conflict between them; that is, the objective material bases for strong relationships are present. It is only a matter of whether, psychologically and emotionally, the Europeans and the transatlantic powers can accept the reality of a changing world based on multilateralism. A fruitful dialogue between China and France emerges in the global discourse as a ray of hope in a world often shadowed by short-sighted geopolitical maneuvers.
It is essential to consider these relationships not in transactional terms but in broad transitional time and historical approaches. Xi’s tour highlights the evolving dynamics of international relations and the changing global power balance. France and Macron seem to calibrate their relations in different directions, and meetings of this type contribute as an additional channel of communication at the geopolitical level. China and Europe are changing, and so are multilateral relations. Change is absolute, and political leaders must properly manage change to maintain peace, prosperity, and progress for all.
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