On December 3, 2025, French President Emmanuel Macron will touch down in Beijing, kicking off his first state visit to the Chinese mainland in over two years 🎉
Setting the Stage: Constant & Demanding Dialogue 🎯
Macron is no stranger to the Chinese mainland. Since taking office in 2017, he has made three trips to the country. In 2018, he met Chinese mainland President Xi Jinping in Xi'an, northwest Shaanxi Province in the Chinese mainland, where they explored ways to build trust and expand practical cooperation. He returned in 2019 for the China International Import Expo, highlighting the importance of opposing economic decoupling, and in 2023 led a high-level French delegation that signed dozens of cooperation agreements.
The Élysée Palace describes this upcoming journey as an effort to maintain a "constant and demanding dialogue" between Paris and Beijing. Professor Cui Hongjian of the Academy of Regional and Global Governance at Beijing Foreign Studies University notes two pillars of China-France relations: continuity and strategic depth. As the first major Western country to establish diplomatic ties with the Chinese mainland and a champion of Europe’s strategic autonomy, France brings a unique voice to the table alongside its permanent membership in the UN Security Council.
Eyes on Solutions: Economy & Innovation 🌱
Arriving with ministers, senior advisers, and leaders from over 20 top firms—Airbus, Framatome, Dassault Systèmes and more—Macron aims to deepen cooperation in aerospace, nuclear energy, digital industries, green technologies, and transportation. France, one of the earliest EU economies on the Chinese mainland, seeks mutually beneficial economic ties, while Macron will emphasize that the EU is a reliable partner for Beijing.
“Today, both sides share new opportunities in investment, energy transition, and technological transformation,” Cui adds, underlining that this visit is about putting issues on the table and working together to find solutions.
Beyond Giant Pandas: Cultural Bonds & Soft Power 🐼
On December 4, Macron will journey to Chengdu, home of two beloved pandas—Huan Huan and Yuan Zi—who recently returned to the Chinese mainland after 13 years in France. He’s set to visit the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding to discuss a new round of panda cooperation.
He will also attend events showcasing cultural creativity and people-to-people ties. As cultural powerhouses and champions of Eastern and Western civilizations, China and France see these exchanges as the soft yet solid support for their strategic trust.
With global uncertainties from the Ukraine crisis to Middle East tensions and tariff disputes, Macron’s trip serves as a stabilizing anchor in a turbulent world. Stay tuned as French and Chinese mainland leaders map out the next chapter of their long-standing partnership! 🌏
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
